Vibration characteristics and damage detection in a suspension bridge

Suspension bridges are flexible and vibration sensitive structures that exhibit complex and multi-modal vibration. Due to this, the usual vibration based methods could face a challenge when used for damage detection in these structures. This paper develops and applies a mode shape component specific damage index (DI) to detect and locate damage in a suspension bridge with pre-tensioned cables. This is important as suspension bridges are large structures and damage in them during their long service lives could easily go un-noticed. The capability of the proposed vibration based DI is demonstrated through its application to detect and locate single and multiple damages with varied locations and severity in the cables of the suspension bridge. The outcome of this research will enhance the safety and performance of these bridges which play an important role in the transport network.

Non-Linear vibration of an elastic string

Equations proposed in previous work on the non-linear motion of a string show a basic disagreement, which is here traced to an assumption about the longitudinal displacement u. It is shown that it is neither necessary nor justifiable to assume that u is zero; and also that the velocity of propagation of u disturbances in a string is different from that in an infinite medium, although this difference is usually negligible. After formulating the exact equations of motion for the string, a systematic procedure is described for obtaining approximations to these equations to any order, making only the assumption that the strain in the material of the string is small. The lowest order equations in this scheme are non-linear, and are used to describe the response of a string near resonance. Finally, it is shown that in the absence of damping, planar motion of a string is always unstable at sufficiently high amplitudes, the critical amplitude falling to zero at the natural frequency and its subharmonics. The effect of slight damping on this instability is also discussed.

The vibration of cantilever bridges.

The natural frequencies of symmetrical double cantilever bridges are studied. Determinantal frequency equations are derived for the symmetric and the antisymmetric modes of vibration. They are solved numerically on a computer by the bisection method for the frequency parameter. The values of the frequency parameter for the first four modes are presented. Typical mode shapes are also presented.

Determination of the orthotropic plate parameters of stiffened plates and grillages in free vibration

It is well known that the analysis of vibration of orthogonally stiffened rectangular plates and grillages may be simplified by replacing the actual structure by an orthotropic plate. This needs a suitable determination of the four elastic rigidity constants Dx, Dy, Dxy, D1 and the mass {Mathematical expression} of the orthotropic plate. A method is developed here for determining these parameters in terms of the sectional properties of the original plate-stiffener combination or the system of interconnected beams. Results of experimental work conducted on aluminium plates agree well with the results of the theory developed here.

The vibration spectrum of rutile

The long-wave lattice dynamics of rutile has been studied using a rigid ion model. The vibration frequencies for the zero wavevector have been calculated using the expressions for the frequencies of the normal modes derived group theoretically. The observed Raman and infrared frequencies have been explained.

Bending, vibration and buckling of simply supported thick orthotropic rectangular plates and laminates

This paper presents a unified exact analysis for the statics and dynamics of a class of thick laminates. A three-dimensional, linear, small deformation theory of elasticity solution is developed for the bending, vibration and buckling of simply supported thick orthotropic rectangular plates and laminates. All the nine elastic constants of orthotropy are taken into account. The solution is formally exact and leads to simple infinite series for stresses and displacements in flexure, forced vibration and "beam-column" type problems and to closed form characteristic equations for free vibration and buckling problems. For free vibration of plates, the present analysis yields a triply infinite spectrum of frequencies instead of only one doubly infinite spectrum by thin plate theory or three doubly infinite spectra by Reissner-Mindlin type analyses. Some numerical results are presented for plates and laminates. Comparison of results from thin plate, Reissner and Mindlin analyses with these yield some important conclusions regarding the validity and effects of the assumptions made in the approximate theories.

Vibration of rectangular orthotropic plates

An approximate analytical procedure has been given to solve the problem of a vibrating rectangular orthotropic plate, with various combinations of simply supported and clamped boundary conditions. Numerical results have been given for the case of a clamped square plate. Nomenclature 2a, 2b sides of the rectangular plate h plate thickness Eprime x , Eprime y , EPrime, G elastic constants of te orthotropic material D x Eprime x h 3/12 D y Eprime y h 3/12 H xy EPrimeh 3/12+Gh 3/6 D x , D y and H xy are rigidity constants of the orthotropic platergr mass of the plate per unit area ngr Poisson's ratio W deflection of the plate p circular frequency gamma b/a ratio X m , Y characteristic functions of the vibrating beam problem -lambda rgrp 2 a 2 b 2/H xy the frequency parameter.

An exact analysis for vibration of simply-supported homogeneous and laminated thick rectangular plates

A three-dimensional linear, small deformation theory of elasticity solution by the direct method is developed for the free vibration of simply-supported, homogeneous, isotropic, thick rectangular plates. The solution is exact and involves determining a triply infinite sequence of eigenvalues from a doubly infinite set of closed form transcendental equations. As no restrictions are placed on the thickness variation of stresses or displacements, this formulation yields a triply infinite spectrum of frequencies, instead of only one doubly infinite spectrum by thin plate theory and three doubly infinite spectra by Mindlin's thick plate theory. Further, the present analysis yields symmetric thickness modes which neither of the approximate theories can identify. Some numerical results from the two approximate theories are compared with those from the present solution and some important conclusions regarding the effect of the assumptions made in the approximate theories are drawn. The thickness variations of stresses and displacements are also discussed. The analysis is readily extended for laminated plates of isotropic materials. Numerical results are also given for three-ply laminates, and are used to assess the accuracy of thin plate theory predictions for laminates. Extension to general lateral surface conditions and forced vibrations is indicated.

Vibration of simply-supported trapezoidal plates I. Symmetric trapezoids

A detailed investigation of the natural frequencies and mode shapes of simply supported symmetric trapezoidal plates is undertaken in this paper. For numerical calculations, the relationship that exists between the eigenvalue problem of a polygonal simply supported plate and the eigenvalue problem of polygonal membrane of the same shape is utilized with advantage. The deflection surface is expressed in terms of a Fourier sine series in transformed coordinates and the Galerkin method is used. Results are presented in the form of tables and graphs. Several features like the crossing of frequency curves and the metamorphosis of some of the nodal patterns are observed. By a suitable interpretation of the modes of those symmetric trapezoidal plates which have the median as the nodal line, the results for some of the modes of unsymmetrical trapezoidal plates are also deduced.

Effect of vibration on heat transfer from a horizontal cylinder to a normal air stream

The effect of vibration on heat transfer from a horizontal copper cylinder, 0.344 in. in diameter and 6 in. long, was investigated. The cylinder was placed normal to an air stream and was sinusoidally vibrated in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the air stream. The flow velocity varied from 19 ft/s to 92 ft/s; the double amplitude of vibration from 0.75 cm to 3.2 cm, and the frequency of vibration from 200 to 2800 cycles/min. A transient technique was used to determine the heat transfer coefficients. The experimental data in the absence of vibration is expressed by NNu = 0.226 NRe0.6 in the range 2500 < NRe < 15 000. By imposing vibrational velocities as high as 20 per cent of the flow velocity, no appreciable change in the heat transfer coefficient was observed. An analysis using the resultant of the vibration and the flow velocity explains the observed phenomenon.

Vibration of simply-supported trapezoidal plates II. Unsymmetric trapezoids

This paper deals with the investigation of the vibration characteristics of simply-supported unsymmetric trapezoidal plates. For numerical calculations, the relationship between the eigenvalue problems of a polygonal simply-supported plate and polygonal membrane is again effectively utilized. The Galerkin method is applied, with the deflection surface expressed in terms of a Fourier sine series in transformed coordinates. Numerical values for the first seven to eight frequencies for different geometries of the unsymmetric trapezoid are presented in the form of tables. Also the nodal patterns for a few representative configurations are presented.

First passage probability during random vibration

The probability that a random process crosses an arbitrary level for the first time is expressed as a Gram—Charlier series, the leading term of which is the Poisson approximation. The coefficients of this series are related to the moments of the number of level crossings. The results are applicable to both stationary and non-stationary processes. Some numerical results are presented for the response process of a linear single-degree-of-freedom oscillator under Gaussian white noise excitation.