What is the differential equation model for this Mass Spring Damping system?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around modeling a mass-spring-damping system using differential equations. Participants are tasked with deriving the equations of motion for the system, which includes two masses, dampers, and springs.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss applying Newton's second law to each mass individually, leading to simultaneous differential equations. There are questions about the correct formulation of forces acting on each mass, particularly regarding the interactions between the masses and the springs/dampers.

Discussion Status

Several participants are refining their equations based on feedback regarding the dependencies of forces on relative positions and velocities. There is a collaborative effort to clarify the correct expressions for the forces acting on each mass, but no consensus has been reached on the final forms of the equations.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the assumption that the equations should reflect the interactions between the two masses, including the effects of the springs and dampers. There is an emphasis on ensuring that all terms are correctly represented in the equations.

IState21
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Homework Statement


fjl3dl.png

That is the system.

B1 and B2 are the dampers
I am asked to obtain the differential equation model for the system. I haven't dealt with these in a while so I'm not sure where to start.

Homework Equations


Like I stated earlier i haven't messed with one of these in a while so I'm not really sure how to get started. Any help to get the wheels goin would be greatly appreciated.
 
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IState21 said:
I am asked to obtain the differential equation model for the system. I haven't dealt with these in a while so I'm not sure where to start.

Homework Equations


Like I stated earlier i haven't messed with one of these in a while so I'm not really sure how to get started. Any help to get the wheels goin would be greatly appreciated.
The direct approach is to treat each mass individually (at least at the beginning), and apply Newton's second law of motion,

[tex]m_n \underline{\ddot y_n} = \sum \vec F_n[/tex]

[Edit: In my notation above, the n subscript refers to the particular mass in question, and not any particular force acting on that mass. (There may be multiple forces associated with a given n.)]

You'll end up with a set of simultaneous differential equations (in this case, two simultaneous differential equations, one equation for each n).

(Hint: I see 3 forces acting on m1 and 5 forces acting on m2)

Once you have your set of simultaneous differential equations, you could express them together using linear algebra (if the equations are linear -- which they are in this case), or whatever representation your coursework calls for.
 
Last edited:
For the first equation I get
[tex]m_{2}\frac{d^{2}y}{dt^{2}}=F_{1}-K_{1}y-B_{1}\frac{dy}{dt}[/tex]
does that look correct?
 
IState21 said:
For the first equation I get
[tex]m_{2}\frac{d^{2}y}{dt^{2}}=F_{1}-K_{1}y-B_{1}\frac{dy}{dt}[/tex]
does that look correct?
No not quite.

Are you sure you mean m2 for this equation and not m1?

Also the force felt on m1 by the spring k1 depends on the difference between y1 and y2; not just y1 alone.

Similarly, the force felt on m1 by the dampener B1 is proportional the difference in velocities between m1 and m2.
 
collinsmark said:
No not quite.

Are you sure you mean m2 for this equation and not m1?

Also the force felt on m1 by the spring k1 depends on the difference between y1 and y2; not just y1 alone.

Similarly, the force felt on m1 by the dampener B1 is proportional the difference in velocities between m1 and m2.

You are right, I meant to put [tex]m_{2}[/tex]

So are you saying
[tex]m_{1}\frac{d^{2}y}{dt^{2}}=F_{1}-K_{1}(y_{1}-y_{2})-B_{1}(\frac{dy_{1}}{dt}-\frac{dy_{2}}{dt}))[/tex]
 
IState21 said:
So are you saying
[tex]m_{1}\frac{d^{2} {\color{red}y}}{dt^{2}}=F_{1}-K_{1}(y_{1}-y_{2})-B_{1} \left( \frac{dy_{1}}{dt}-\frac{dy_{2}}{dt} \right)[/tex]
That looks quite a bit better. :approve:

(I modified the format of the parenthesis a little. Also red emphasis mine.)

Just make sure you label the y in the d2y/dt2 term. Remember, there's two ys, y1 and y2. You need to specify which one.
 
collinsmark said:
That looks quite a bit better. :approve:

(I modified the format of the parenthesis a little. Also red emphasis mine.)

Just make sure you label the y in the d2y/dt2 term. Remember, there's two ys, y1 and y2. You need to specify which one.


for m2 i got:

[tex]m_{2}\frac{d^{2}y_{2}}{dt^{2}}=F_{2}+K_{1}y_{1}+B_{1}\frac{dy_{1}}{dt}-k_{2}y_{2}-B_{2}\frac{dy_{2}}{dt}[/tex]

how does that look?
 
IState21 said:
for m2 i got:

[tex]m_{2}\frac{d^{2}y_{2}}{dt^{2}}=F_{2}+ {\color{red}K_{1}y_{1}}+{\color{red}B_{1}\frac{dy_{1}}{dt}}-k_{2}y_{2}-B_{2}\frac{dy_{2}}{dt}[/tex]

how does that look?
Similar [but not identical to] before, the force from spring k1 depends on the difference in position of y1 and y2. Similarly, the force from the dampener B1 depends on the difference between the velocities of the two masses.
 
collinsmark said:
Similar [but not identical to] before, the force from spring k1 depends on the difference in position of y1 and y2. Similarly, the force from the dampener B1 depends on the difference between the velocities of the two masses.

You are right, i forgot to figure that in

[tex]m_{2}\frac{d^{2}y_{2}}{dt^{2}}=F_{2}+K_{1}(y_{1}-y_{2})+B_{1}(\frac{dy_{1}}{dt}-\frac{dy_{2}}{dt})-k_{2}y_{2}-B_{2}\frac{dy_{2}}{dt}[/tex]

correct?
 
  • #10
IState21 said:
You are right, i forgot to figure that in

[tex]m_{2}\frac{d^{2}y_{2}}{dt^{2}}=F_{2}+K_{1}(y_{1}-y_{2})+B_{1}(\frac{dy_{1}}{dt}-\frac{dy_{2}}{dt})-k_{2}y_{2}-B_{2}\frac{dy_{2}}{dt}[/tex]

correct?
'Looks good to me! :approve:
 

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