Natural Vibration of Beam - Algebraic Query

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the natural vibration of a beam, specifically focusing on the algebraic manipulation of a matrix equation related to its characteristic equation in terms of angular frequency. Participants explore the derivation of a quadratic characteristic equation and the definition of a variable used in the equation.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question how the author derives the quadratic characteristic equation from the determinant of the matrix equation.
  • There is a discussion about the definition of the variable ##\lambda## and its units, with some participants suggesting it should be dimensionless.
  • Some participants express uncertainty about whether ##\rho## represents linear mass density or volumetric density, leading to confusion over the units of ##\lambda##.
  • Participants debate the implications of different powers of ##\lambda## in the quadratic equation, with some asserting that they must be dimensionless.
  • There is a clarification that radians are dimensionless, which some participants note in relation to angular frequency.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the definition and units of ##\lambda##, with no consensus reached on whether ##\rho## is a linear mass density or a volumetric density. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the implications of these definitions on the derivation of the quadratic equation.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations in the clarity of definitions and assumptions regarding the variables used in the matrix equation, particularly concerning the interpretation of density and its units.

bugatti79
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Folks,

Just wondering what the author is doing here, given

##\displaystyle \left (\frac{2EI}{L^3} \begin {bmatrix} 6&3L\\3L&2L^2 \end {bmatrix} -\omega^2 \frac{\rho A L}{420} \begin {bmatrix} 156&22L\\22L&4L^2 \end{bmatrix} \begin {bmatrix} W\\ \theta \end {bmatrix} \right )=\begin {bmatrix} 0\\ 0 \end {bmatrix}##

He proceeds to set the determinant of the matrix above to 0 to obtain a quadratic characteristic equation in ##\omega^2##

The equation being

##15120-1224 \lambda + \lambda^2=0##, where ##\displaystyle \lambda=\frac{\rho A L^4}{EI} \omega^2##

Using wolfram http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?...mega^2+p+A+l)/420)*{{156,22l},{22l,4l^2}})+=0 (Z=EI)

I don't see how he arrives at this quadratic expression or how he determined ##\lambda## ...thanks
 
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bugatti79 said:
Folks,

Just wondering what the author is doing here, given

##\displaystyle \left (\frac{2EI}{L^3} \begin {bmatrix} 6&3L\\3L&2L^2 \end {bmatrix} -\omega^2 \frac{\rho A L}{420} \begin {bmatrix} 156&22L\\22L&4L^2 \end{bmatrix} \begin {bmatrix} W\\ \theta \end {bmatrix} \right )=\begin {bmatrix} 0\\ 0 \end {bmatrix}##

He proceeds to set the determinant of the matrix above to 0 to obtain a quadratic characteristic equation in ##\omega^2##

The equation being

##15120-1224 \lambda + \lambda^2=0##, where ##\displaystyle \lambda=\frac{\rho A L^4}{EI} \omega^2##

Using wolfram http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?...mega^2+p+A+l)/420)*{{156,22l},{22l,4l^2}})+=0 (Z=EI)

I don't see how he arrives at this quadratic expression or how he determined ##\lambda## ...thanks

Ah, I have it. The first equation in the alternative form in wolfram gives the clue.
 
bugatti79 said:
Folks,

Just wondering what the author is doing here, given

##\displaystyle \left (\frac{2EI}{L^3} \begin {bmatrix} 6&3L\\3L&2L^2 \end {bmatrix} -\omega^2 \frac{\rho A L}{420} \begin {bmatrix} 156&22L\\22L&4L^2 \end{bmatrix} \begin {bmatrix} W\\ \theta \end {bmatrix} \right )=\begin {bmatrix} 0\\ 0 \end {bmatrix}##

He proceeds to set the determinant of the matrix above to 0 to obtain a quadratic characteristic equation in ##\omega^2##

The equation being

##15120-1224 \lambda + \lambda^2=0##, where ##\displaystyle \lambda=\frac{\rho A L^4}{EI} \omega^2##

Using wolfram http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?...mega^2+p+A+l)/420)*{{156,22l},{22l,4l^2}})+=0 (Z=EI)

I don't see how he arrives at this quadratic expression or how he determined ##\lambda## ...thanks

Why do we have ##\displaystyle \lambda=\frac{\rho A L^4}{EI} \omega^2##? Why isn't it some other combination of units? In other words, what should the units of lambda be?

If we do a units balance on this to which I calculate

##\displaystyle\frac{\frac{kg}{m^4}m^2m^4 }{\frac{\frac{kgm}{s^2}}{m^2}m^4}\frac{rad^2}{s^2}=\frac{rad^2}{m}## where ##\rho## is the mass density per metre...thanks
 
bugatti79 said:
Why do we have ##\displaystyle \lambda=\frac{\rho A L^4}{EI} \omega^2##? Why isn't it some other combination of units? In other words, what should the units of lambda be?

If we do a units balance on this to which I calculate

##\displaystyle\frac{\frac{kg}{m^4}m^2m^4 }{\frac{\frac{kgm}{s^2}}{m^2}m^4}\frac{rad^2}{s^2}=\frac{rad^2}{m}## where ##\rho## is the mass density per metre...thanks

##\lambda## should be dimensionless. You can tell because the quadratic equation involves different powers of ##\lambda##, so it can't have dimensions.

Are you sure that ##\rho## is a linear mass density? It looks like it should be kg/m3.

Also, keep in mind that "radians" are dimensionless units (they have dimensions of length/length).
 
Mute said:
##\lambda## should be dimensionless. You can tell because the quadratic equation involves different powers of ##\lambda##, so it can't have dimensions.

Not sure I understand this. For example on a slight tangent of topic if we consider a 1 dimensional bar element whose interpolation function is a quadratic in x which is the distance along the bar in metres...

##u_h^e(x)=c_1+c_2x+c_3x^2## This is not dimensionless...


Mute said:
Are you sure that ##\rho## is a linear mass density? It looks like it should be kg/m3.

Also, keep in mind that "radians" are dimensionless units (they have dimensions of length/length).

Well this problem stems from the Euler-Bernoulli Beam Theory and the book states that ##\rho## is "mass density per unit length" so isn't that kg.m^3/m=kg/m^4?...
 
bugatti79 said:
Not sure I understand this. For example on a slight tangent of topic if we consider a 1 dimensional bar element whose interpolation function is a quadratic in x which is the distance along the bar in metres...

##u_h^e(x)=c_1+c_2x+c_3x^2## This is not dimensionless...

Ah, I think I know what you mean. The LHS of above is not 0 so dimensions are allowed.

Its when an equation is set to 0 with different powers of ##\lambda## like you say, that they must be dimensionless, right...?

thanks
 
Mute said:
Are you sure that ##\rho## is a linear mass density? It looks like it should be kg/m3.
Agreed, since the mass of the beam appears to be ##\rho A L## in your matrix equation.

Also, keep in mind that "radians" are dimensionless units (they have dimensions of length/length).

##\omega## is the angular frequency in radians/secons, not an angle in radians.
 
bugatti79 said:
Not sure I understand this. For example on a slight tangent of topic if we consider a 1 dimensional bar element whose interpolation function is a quadratic in x which is the distance along the bar in metres...

##u_h^e(x)=c_1+c_2x+c_3x^2## This is not dimensionless...

The difference with this example is that your coefficients ##c_i## each have different units to compensate for the units of the different powers of x.

In the quadratic for ##\lambda##, you assigned no numbers to the numerical coefficients, and since you were following a book that appears to have left all dimensionful quantities as variables, I assumed those coefficients were dimensionless. Are the coefficients supposed to have units?

Well this problem stems from the Euler-Bernoulli Beam Theory and the book states that ##\rho## is "mass density per unit length" so isn't that kg.m^3/m=kg/m^4?...

The book says that word-for-word? That is a very confusing statement. One usually says "mass per unit length" or "mass per unit volume", but I have not heard "mass density per unit length". I think it must be a typo or something. Even if we were to take that at face value, is the density a linear density or a volumetric density?


AlephZero said:
##\omega## is the angular frequency in radians/secons, not an angle in radians.

Yes, I was not referring to the angular frequency as a whole, only the factor of radians that remained in bugatti79's calculation, so I mentioned that radians are actually dimensionless.
 
Mute said:
The difference with this example is that your coefficients ##c_i## each have different units to compensate for the units of the different powers of x.

In the quadratic for ##\lambda##, you assigned no numbers to the numerical coefficients, and since you were following a book that appears to have left all dimensionful quantities as variables, I assumed those coefficients were dimensionless. Are the coefficients supposed to have units?
Not sure I understand what you are saying about the numerical coefficients? The coefficients of ##\lambda## and ##\lambda^2## are -1224 and 1 respectively, right?


Mute said:
The book says that word-for-word? That is a very confusing statement. One usually says "mass per unit length" or "mass per unit volume", but I have not heard "mass density per unit length". I think it must be a typo or something. Even if we were to take that at face value, is the density a linear density or a volumetric density?

Yes. That is all the book says as above. So perhaps it is a typo...

I have never heard of a volumetric density...
 

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