Example Problems for Dynamic Analysis: Modal and Harmonic Analysis in

Abaqus/Standard

Generally, the steps for the free vibration analysis of a structure are as follows:
1. Sketch the structure and create a part
2. Define material properties. This must include the density of the material,
because mass is crucial in dynamic analyses. Density is input as a General
property.
3. Define a section which references the material just defined
4. Apply this section to the part
5. Mesh the part
6. Define the analysis steps. I would typically use one step to apply the boundary
conditions, and another step for the vibratory response. The boundary conditions
are input in a Static, General step, and the vibratory response is found as a
Linear Perturbation, Frequency step
7. Define the boundary conditions (applied in the Initial step or in the step you
created for this purpose.)
8. Create a job associated with this model
9. Do a data check on the job, to check for errors in creation
10. Submit the job for analysis

Once the analysis is complete, go to the Results module and

11. Read in the output database
12. Main Menu > Result > Step/Frame will show the natural frequencies. Choose the
one you wish to view and select OK.
13. Plot the deformed shape to see what the mode looks like

Here is a .inp file you can input (as a text file recall module 1) or you can use this as a
guide to see how to do the GUI-input (interactive) method:

*Heading
Vibration
*preprint, model = no, history = no
*node
1,
25, 12.,
601, ,12.
625, 12., 12.
*ngen, nset = top
1, 25, 1
*ngen, nset = bottom
601, 625, 1
*nfill
top, bottom, 24, 25
*nset, nset = edges, generate = yes
1, 601, 25
25, 625, 25
*element, type = S4R
1, 1, 2, 27, 26
*elgen, elset = PlateElements
1, 24, 1, 1, 24, 25, 25
*material, name = steel
*elastic
30.0e6, 0.3
*density
7.34e-4
*shell section, elset = PlateElements, material = steel
0.05
*boundary
top, 1, 6
bottom, 1, 6
edges, 1, 6
*step
*frequency
5, ,
*end step

For the model as defined by the .inp file above, the first five natural frequncies
calculated are: 122, 250 (repeated once), 369 and 455 Hz. A plot of the 369 HZ mode
is shown below.
By the way: if you should wish to output images from Abaqus for inclusion in a
document, such as I have done, use Main Menu >File > Print and choose to print to a
file. You can choose from Postscript, encapsulated postscript, TIFF and a couple of
other formats.

To perform a harmonic analysis, the steps are slightly different. You can use the
same plate, if you like, to experience this analysis. Here is the general process:
Build your model pretty much as any other model. The first five steps described
above apply here.
You will need to define a node or set of nodes as the load points for the analysis
(I am assuming a point load or set of point loads.) You may also define a
different set of nodes at which the output will be requested, if you wish to have
history at nodes other than the load points.
You will define the harmonic analysis as a STEADY STATE DYNAMIC step,
which is a linear perturbation procedure. This will be defined in the edit step
dialog box, or within the *step segment of the input file. Within this definition, you
must define beginning and ending frequencies of the analysis. All loads within a
single step must be applied at the same frequencies. You also specify whether
you want a linear distribution of frequencies or a logarithmic distribution, and
whether you wish to bias the distribution (more frequencies analyzed near the
ends of the frequency range, for example.) The defaults are logarithmic
distribution, with no bias.
 You must create an output history request. Field output describes the response
of the entire field, at discrete times (or, in this case, specific frequencies). History
output is used to assess time variance of response quantities at specific
locations.
The steps below may be illustrative of the points described above.

1. Use the input file above, omitting the *STEP command and all that follows. Cut
and paste these commands into a pure text document with a .inp extension. ( I
named it harmonic_plate.inp) Open an Abaqus CAE session, choosing to
create model database, and import the file you have just saved.
2. In the model tree, expand the harmonic_plate branch, and then the Parts and
Part-1 containers. Double click on Sets to open the Create Set dialog box.
3. In the Create Set dialog box, enter the name LoadPoint, and choose Node
type and click Continue. Use the mouse to pick the central node of the plate
and click Done. [In this step you define the point at which the load will be
applied. You could choose other points, as appropriate, or choose multiple
points.]
4. Go back to the model tree, and double click the Steps branch to open the Create
Step dialog box. Name the new step HarmonicLoad and define it to be of
Procedure type linear perturbation, and Steady-state Dynamics, Direct. Insert
this step after the Initial step. Click Continue. In the following dialog box, choose
linear distribution, input minimum frequency of interest, maximum frequency of
interest, number of output points, and bias. Bias = 1 is for even spacing. I input
0 for minimum, 300 for maximum and 31 for number of points. This will generate
output at 0, 10, 20, , 300 Hz.
5. In the model tree, double click on Loads, and create a load to be applied in the
HarmonicLoad step. This will be a concentrated force, z-directed, unit valued, at
the defined LoadPoint location. This is input as CF3 value of 1.0. (CF3 refers to
concentrated force in 3-direction.)
6. Double click History Output Requests in the model tree to create a history
request. Name this request Harmonic and associate it with the HarmonicLoad
step. The Domain will be set, with the set being the point defined as LoadPoint.
In the Output variables box, expand the Displacement/Velocity/Acceleration
item and check the box for U, Translations and Rotations. Set frequency to be
every increment.
7. Double-click on Jobs in the model tree to create a job called
HarmonicAnalysis using the harmonic_plate model. Accept the default values
for the job.
8. Perform a data check on the HarmonicAnalysis job, then submit it for analysis
after any necessary troubleshooting.
9. In the Results tab, read in the Output Database HarmonicAnalysis.odb, and use
Main Menu > Result > History Output. Choose Spatial displacement: U3 at the
specified loadpoint. You should see a plot similar to that shown below.

In this plot, the horizontal axis is frequency in Hz, and the vertical axis is in
displacement. In this case, the model was built in inches, so the displacement is
also in inches. The large spike indicates the presence of a resonant frequency
somewhere near to 120 Hz. From the modal analysis, we know that there is a
resonant frequency at about 122 Hz.