MULTI-DEGREES OF

FREEDOM SYSTEM
Prepared by Promesse NIYIBIZI and
Felicien NSHIMIYIMANA
UNIVERSITY OF RWANDA - CST
 INTRODUCTION
• The number of displacement components which must be considered
in order to represent the effects of all significant inertial forces of a
structure may be termed the number of dynamic degrees of
freedom of the structure .
• For example, if the three masses in the system are fully concentrated
and are constrained so that the corresponding mass points translate
only in a vertical direction, this would be called a three degree of
freedom (3 DOF) system .
 INTRODUCTION
• The Degrees of freedom in a discrete-parameter system may be taken as the
displacement amplitudes( particle displacement ) of certain selected points in the
structure, or

• They may be generalized coordinates representing the amplitudes of a specified

set of displacement patterns.

• For the purposes of this presentation, the term dynamic may be defined simply
as time-varying; thus a dynamic load is any load of which its magnitude,
direction, and/or position varies with time.

• Similarly, the structural response to a dynamic load means the resulting stresses
and deflections, is also time-varying, or dynamic.
 INTRODUCTION
• Dynamic degrees of freedom : are a set of independent
displacements/rotations that completely define the displaced position
of the mass with respect to its initial position.
Example of a Single Degree of Freedom (SDOF) System:
• A vertical cantilever with the mass concentrated at its tip can be
idealized as a Single Degree Of Freedom (SDOF) System. The
degree of freedom is represented by the lateral displacement u
of the mass.
 INTRODUCTION
Example of a Multi-Degree of Freedom (MDOF) System:
• A multi-storey frame with the masses concentrated the storey
levels can be idealized as a multi degree of freedom (MDOF)
system. The degrees of freedom are the lateral displacements of
the storey masses. The system in the next figure has 4 dynamic
degrees of freedom – displacements u1 – u4.
 What is this “freedom” things , anyway ?
• This is all about the dynamic response of a structure.

• It’s about how a structure will respond to a time-varying (dynamic) loads like
seismic loads.

• As it is well known , you can’t predict accurately when earthquake is happening .

• So , it’s just a matter of prediction of how your structure will respond to it .

• In general, structural response to any dynamic loading is expressed basically in

terms of the displacements of the structure.
 How to know that response
• Two basically different approaches are available for evaluating structural response
to dynamic loads:
• Deterministic and Non-Deterministic.
• The choice of method to be used in any given case depends upon how the
loading is defined .
• If the time variation of loading is fully known, even though it may be highly
oscillatory or irregular in character, it will be referred to herein as a prescribed
dynamic loading
• the analysis of the response of any specified structural system to a prescribed
dynamic loading is defined as a deterministic analysis
• On the other hand, if the time variation is not completely known but can be
defined in a statistical sense, the loading is termed a random dynamic loading;
and its corresponding analysis of response is defined as a non-deterministic
analysis.
 DETERMINISTIC ANALYSIS
• The principal emphasis in this seminar is placed on methods of
deterministic dynamic analysis.
• TYPES OF PRESCRIBED LOADINGS
Periodic and Non Periodic Loadings
• a Periodic loading exhibits the same time variation successively for a large
number of cycles. The simplest periodic loading has the sinusoidal variation,
which is termed simple harmonic ;
• Non-periodic loadings may be either short duration impulsive loadings or
long duration general forms of loads.
 METHODS OF DISCRETIZATION
• Discretization is the process of dividing a geometry into finite elements to
prepare for analysis.
• There 3 methods of discretization :
1. LUMPED MASS PROCEDURE
• An analysis of the dynamic system in Figure b below is obviously made
complicated by the fact that the inertial forces result from structural time-varying
displacements which in turn are influenced by the magnitudes of inertial forces.
• This closed cycle of cause and effect can be attacked directly only by formulating
the problem in terms of differential equations.
 METHODS OF DISCRETIZATION
• If one assumes the mass of the beam to be concentrated at discrete
points as shown in Figure below, the analytical problem becomes
greatly simplified because inertial forces develop only at these mass
points. In this case, it is necessary to define the displacements and
accelerations only at these discrete locations .
• Before

• After
 METHODS OF DISCRETIZATION
• The lumping procedure is most effective in treating systems in which a large
proportion of the total mass actually is concentrated at a few discrete points.
2. GENERALIZED DISPLACEMENTS
• This procedure is based on the assumption that the deflected shape of the
structure can be expressed as the sum of a series of specified displacement
patterns;
• These patterns then become the displacement coordinates of the structure.
• A simple example of this approach is the trigonometric series representation of
the deflection of a simple beam.
• In this case, the deflection shape may be expressed as the sum of
independent sine-wave contributions, as shown in this mathematical form
 METHODS OF DISCRETIZATION
3.THE FINITE ELEMENT METHOD
• It combines certain features of both the lumped-mass and the generalized-
coordinate procedures,
• It has now become popular.
• This approach, which is the basis of the finite-element method of analysis of
structural continua, provides a convenient and reliable idealization of the system
• It is particularly effective in digital-computer analyses.
• The finite-element type of idealization is applicable to structures of all types:
• Framed structures, which comprise assemblages of one-dimensional members
(beams, columns, etc.); plane-stress, plate and shell-type structures, which are
made up of two-dimensional components; and general three-dimensional solids.
• In general, the finite element approach provides the most efficient procedure for
expressing the displacements of arbitrary structural configurations by means of a
discrete set of coordinates.
 FORMULATION OF THE EQUATIONS OF MOTION
• As mentioned earlier, the primary objective of a deterministic structural-dynamic
analysis is the evaluation of the displacement time-histories of a given structure
subjected to a given time-varying loading.

• The mathematical expressions defining the dynamic displacements are called the
equations of motion of the structure, and the solution of these equations of
motion provides the required displacement time-histories .

• The formulation of the equations of motion of a dynamic system is possibly

the most important, and sometimes the most difficult, phase of the entire analysis
procedure
 Assumptions to simplify the structure
• Loads are concentrated at the floor levels.
• Linear damping mechanism
• Degree of freedom :the number of independent
displacements required to define the displaced
positions of all the masses relative to the original
equilibrium position.
 FORCES SUBJECTED TO THE STRUCTURE
• External forces (pft): due to the ground
movement.
• Damping forces: energy dissipation forces in
the structure.
• Elastic or inelastic resisting forces:
resistance of the structure to deform
 Equation of motion
• Direct equation using D’ Alembert
• From second law of newton, the rate of change of momentum of any
mass particle m is equal to the force acting on it.
Consider the figure below:
• From Newton 2nd law of motion.
The equation can be reduced to:
let m be the matrix for two storey shear frame
• Where
For linear behavior,
• The elastic resisting forces is proportional to the relative
displacement of the floor. The constant of proportion is known as
lateral stiffness.
• Therefore the shear force V can be related to the story drift as follow
• If
• Kj given above is suitable for lateral stiffness of
column with fixed ends and K has been
developed through shear building idealization.
• The elastic resisting force at the first floor is
given by:
Therefore, the elastic resistance for first floor
and second floor respectively
 GENERAL APPROACH FOR LINEAR
SYSTEM
• The shear walls equation represented above are not
suitable for complex structures.
• In two planar, a node has three displacements ( x, y
and rotation).
• In 3 dimension, a node has 6 degree of freedom (
translation in x,y and z , and rotation in x, y, and z)
Axial deformation for beams are mostly neglected.
A frame of 18 dof turns to 8 dof
•
Elastic Forces
Damping forces and inertia forces are expressed in
the same way as elastic forces above.
• Conclusion: To minimize the problems
associated with the seism, the elastic forces ,
damping forces and inertia forces needs to be
balanced or the deformations in the structures
are minimized to acceptable level.
 REFERENCES

1. Anil K. chopra,. Dynamic of structure. Berkeley,

university of California
2. Clough& penzien. Dynamic of structure. 3rd
edition. Berkeley, University of California