Creating an Experimental Structural Dynamics Laboratory on a Shoe-string Budget

Abstract

Abstract Creating an Experimental Structural Dynamics Laboratory on a Shoe-string BudgetEducating architectural engineers in aspects of structural dynamics is essential. Whenarchitectural engineering students graduate and enter the workforce they will be faced withanalyzing and designing a variety of structural systems. Oftentimes sophisticated analyticalmodels are created to model the dynamic response of buildings subjected to dynamic loading.Commonly these models rely on the modal superposition method resulting in natural frequenciesand modes shapes. The objective of the course is to enhance student learning with student-ledexperimentation that complements the normal textbook theoretical material and homework.This paper describes the development of a course proposal for the graduate level course“Experimental Structural Dynamics Laboratory”. The objectives are to reinforce dynamicstructural analysis concepts relevant to engineers and to visualize that those analytical conceptssuch as natural frequencies and mode shapes exist in real structures through studentexperimentation. The basic notion that sets this laboratory apart from most existing laboratoriesis that the laboratory can be conducted with inexpensive equipment, such as a low capacity shaketable, a linear mass shaker, simple mobile data acquisition equipment and a limited number ofaccelerometers.A series of structural dynamics concepts are explored using physical models and real structures.Concepts explored include natural frequencies, mode shapes, damping, visualization of modalsuperposition, floor vibration, influence of foundation flexibility on the dynamic response, andthe influence of element buckling on the dynamic structural response. Comparison of theexperimental results is made to an analytical model for each of these concepts.The following topics are envisioned for the course: Introduction to laboratory measurements,ambient vibration, forced vibration, natural frequencies, mode shapes, damping and floorvibration in actual buildings, and effects of foundation stiffness and member buckling onbuilding dynamic response.The course will be evaluated and continually improved.