ELEMENTS OF
STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS
SDOF SYSTEMS UNDER FREE VIBRATION
Dr. Swagata Banerjee Basu
CE462
IIT Bombay, Spring 2025
Pictures and schematic demonstrations used in
this presentation are gathered from several
printed materials and online sources. These
pictures are intended for academic illustration
purposes only and are not meant to be copied
and used otherwise.
CE462 Elements of Structural Dynamics 2
UNDAMPED FREE VIBRATION OF SDOF SYSTEMS
Key points:
1. Equation of motion of SDOF systems
2. Natural frequency, n
3. Natural time period, Tn
4. Response, u(t)
5. Amplitude of response, u0
CE462 Elements of Structural Dynamics 3
UNDAMPED FREE VIBRATION OF SDOF SYSTEM
Chopra, A.K. (2012) Dynamics of Structures
CE462 Elements of Structural Dynamics 4
NATURAL PERIODS OF VIBRATION
Medical Center Building, Richmond,
California.
T1 (longitudinal) = 0.63 sec
T2 (transverse) = 0.74 sec
T3 (torsional) = 0.46 sec
Determined from building motions
recorded during the 1989 Loma
Prieta earthquake.
Chopra, A.K. (2012) Dynamics of Structures
CE462 Elements of Structural Dynamics 5
NATURAL PERIODS OF VIBRATION
Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco,
California.
T1 (transverse) = 18.2 sec
T2 (vertical) = 10.9 sec
T3 (torsional) = 4.43 sec
T4 (longitudinal) = 3.81 sec
Determined from recorded motions
of the bridge under ambient (wind,
traffic, etc.) conditions.
Chopra, A.K. (2012) Dynamics of Structures
CE462 Elements of Structural Dynamics 6
NATURAL PERIODS OF VIBRATION
Reinforced-concrete Chimney
(250-m high), located in France.
Tn = 3.57 sec
Determined from recorded wind-
induced vibration.
Chopra, A.K. (2012) Dynamics of Structures
CE462 Elements of Structural Dynamics 7
DAMPED FREE VIBRATION OF SDOF SYSTEMS
Key points:
1. Critical damping coefficient, Ccr
2. Damping ratio,
3. Damped natural frequency, d
4. Damped natural time period, Td
5. Response, u(t)
6. Amplitude of response, u0
7. Logarithmic decrement,
CE462 Elements of Structural Dynamics 8
FREE VIBRATION OF UNDERDAMPED, CRITICALLY
DAMPED, AND OVERDAMPED SYSTEMS
Chopra, A.K. (2012) Dynamics of Structures
CE462 Elements of Structural Dynamics 9
EFFECTS OF DAMPING ON FREE VIBRATION
Chopra, A.K. (2012) Dynamics of Structures
CE462 Elements of Structural Dynamics 10
FREE VIBRATION WITH FOUR DAMPING RATIOS
Chopra, A.K. (2012) Dynamics of Structures
CE462 Elements of Structural Dynamics 11
