Mechanical Vibration MENG-470

Homework#1 Due on 17/11/1432

Problem1: The dynamical system shown below consists of two elastic springs, each with stiffness , an inverted pendulum with mass and length and a movable cart with mass 5 .

(1) What are the generalized coordinates (DOFs) you will define in order to study the dynamics of the system? SHOW THESES COORDINATES ON THE FIGURE ABOVE (2) Formulate the kinetic energy of the system. (3) Formulate the potential energy of the system. (4) Use Lagranges equations to derive the equations of motion of the system. WRITE THE
SYSTEMS EQUATIONS OF MOTION IN MATRIX FORM

Problem2: A railroad car of mass 2000kg traveling at a speed v=10m/s is stopped at the end of the tracks by a stopping-system which can be modeled as a spring-damper system, as shown in the figure below. The stiffness of the spring k=40N/mm and the damping constant c=20 Ns/mm.

(1) Write down the equation of motion of the stopping-system. (2) In order to solve the above equation, what initial conditions you will specify? (3) Determine the maximum displacement of the railroad car after engaging the springs and the damper. (4) Determine the time taken to reach the maximum displacement.