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Concept: Using Modal Analysis

Using Modal Analysis
Natural frequency is the rate at which a system naturally vibrates once it has been set into motion. A modal
analysis is used to calculate the natural frequencies (eigenfrequencies) and the associated mode shapes
(eigenvectors) of an elastic structure. You can then compare the natural frequencies of the structure with
possible excitation frequencies, enabling you to avoid structural damage by resonance. The mode shapes
show the nodal points, the points where the amplitude is at a minimum, and antinodes, the points where the
amplitude is at a maximum. This information can then be used for design improvement.

In a modal analysis, Simulate solves the equation shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1 – Modal Analysis

This equation assumes free vibrations and ignores damping. The results of the solution process are the
mode shapes and the corresponding natural frequencies. The mass and stiffness matrix must be constant
and not depend on an excitation force, so the modal analysis is linear by default. Simulate does not support a
complex modal analysis where damping is also taken into account. Simulate modal analysis can:

• Calculate a certain number of modes starting from a lower bound.

• Calculate all modes within a lower and upper frequency bound.

• Calculate modes of the constrained or unconstrained structure, and optionally do a rigid mode search
for the constrained structure. Rigid body modes occur when a body is not adequately supported. It can
translate or rotate as a whole without deformation. A body without any restraints has six rigid body
modes, 3 translations and 3 rotations. Rigid modes are free body movements with a frequency of zero.

• Converge on the following in an MPA:

◦ Frequency

◦ Frequency, Local Displacement, and Local Strain Energy

◦ Frequency, Local Displacement, Local Strain Energy, and RMS Stress

Whenever possible use the SPA method. It is the most robust and efficient way to obtain reliable
results.

• Compute displacements for each mode. The corresponding eigenfrequencies are written into the rpt-file.
Rotations (for example, for beams/shells) and modal stresses can be optionally output.

In Simulate, by default, mode shapes are output unit-normalized. This means each mass-normalized mode
shape is scaled by a factor so that its maximum displacement magnitude equals 1.

After the eigenfrequencies and eigenvectors are found, by using the command line option (massnorm), each
mode shape can be directly output mass-normalized according to the equation shown in Figure 2.

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Using Modal Analysis Page 2 of 2

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If modal stresses have been requested as output, these stresses are always computed using the mass-
normalized mode shape, independently of this command line option. Note that modal stresses indicate the
relative loading of the structure belonging to the magnitude of the actual mass-normalized mode shape.
Since in modal analyses no excitation force is applied, they do not reflect a real physical loading.

After the modal analysis, you may run four different types of dynamic analyses in Simulate. Here, Simulate
applies different forcing functions F(t), depending on the type of dynamic analysis, and solves the governing
differential equation used, shown in Figure 3, on the basis of a modal formulation.

Figure 3 – Dynamic Analysis

Even if you request stresses in a subsequent dynamic analysis, you do not have to request stresses in the
modal analysis, since Simulate just uses the displacement coefficients in the dynamic analysis.

Use a modal analysis with rigid mode search to find out why your static analysis fails with the error message
insufficiently constrained. If you are not interested in stresses, just masses and stiffness must be modeled
accurately. Small features like holes, rounds, and chamfers can be suppressed. Modal analyses need
significantly higher computer resources than static analyses. You may reduce the plotting grid to two since
this is usually enough to show the global mode shapes in volume models. In general, you should reserve
enough disk space for temporary and output files.

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