JBeam

Structural Analysis for the Java-Platform

previousContents

Chapter 7

Modal Analysis

Overview

In addition to the static analysis of displacements and stress resultants JBeam also supports a modal analysis of the system. You get eigenfrequencies and eigenmodes as a result.

In modal analysis the lumped mass method is used. This is no longer an exact calculation but only an approximation converging to the exact solution using h-adaption.

For the practical use this means you have to subdivide longer beams into several elements. You should perform at least two calculations at different refinement levels and compare the results to get an idea of the reached accuracy.

Example


The first eigenmode of a frame is calculated using to refinement levels. The eigenfrequencies of both calculation do not differ very much (2.24 vs. 2.26 Hz).

To determine higher eingenmodes you will need more refinement.

Input and Calculation

The problem description input is analogous to static analysis. You should not put any loading on the system. The mass of the elements can be set in the corresponding dialogues in the same way as for sectional values.

To (re)calculate use 'Results - modal analysis'.

Result Output

Displacements and stress resultants for the different eigenmodes can be displayed in arbitraty scalings in the same way as for static analysis.

You can animate the displacement figure using 'Results - animate mode'.

Use 'Results - show next mode' and 'previous mode' two switch between the desired eigenmodes. Number and frequency of the current eigenmode is displayed in the status line.


backContents