MEEM 5702: Analytical Vibroacoustics

Dr. Andrew Barnard

Homework #2

MEEM 5702 Academic Honor Code:

I attest that I have completed this homework on my own and this is my own original work. I
acknowledge that if I choose to cheat and am caught, I will accept responsibility and penalties.
__________________________________________________
Student Signature

Instructions:
Please complete the following problems be. You may look at reference books, class notes, and
discuss solution methods with your classmates. However, this is an individual assignment. The
work you turn in is expected to original. Do not wait until the last minute to start this assignment,
as it will take you a considerable amount of time. You may use MATLAB and/or AMESim to
complete parts of this assignment. You must include a copy of your code and results with the
homework. Always show all work.

Due Date:
Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 9am

Problem 2: The Traffic Light, revisited (30 points)

Consider the same traffic light that we solved in Homework #1: Problem #2. This system can
also be approximated by a continuous beam with a spring, kp, at x = 0 and mass, Mlight, at x = L.
Assume that the boundary condition at x = 0 does not allow rotation (this means that the post can
only move vertically, and not horizontally). Both beams have the same cross sectional area.
Assume that the system starts with zero displacement at time t = 0.
Solve these parts only using variables:
a) Write the solution to the equation of motion of a flexural beam (transverse bending) and
the four boundary conditions and the initial condition.
b) Use the boundary conditions to eliminate some of the coefficients in the equation of
motion and find the transcendental equation. (HINT: this will be VERY algebra
intensive. Be very careful during this process. Group and eliminate as many terms as
possible. You should be able to get down to a 5 term transcendental equation with a
tanh(gL) term, a tan(gL) term, an f2(gL) term that is a trigonometric function, and a f(gL)
term, where f is a non-trigonometric function. Present your solution as 1 tanh() +
2 tan() + 2 () + () = 3 where you need to solve for C1, C2, C3, f2(gL), and
f(gL).)
Write a MATLAB program to:
c) Solve for transcendental equation and report the first 5 natural frequencies. Plot the
transcendental equations as functions of gL/ and limit the y-axis to a range of
10<y<10 and the x-axis to a range of 0<x<10.

Use the MATLAB program and/or your intuition to answer the following:
d) Compare the natural frequencies from Homework #1 with those that you found here.
From Homework #1, the first 5 natural frequencies were (4.4, 28, 79.6, 153.9, 229.2) Hz.
Comment on the accuracy of the lumped parameter model. What assumptions are
different between the models?
e) Increase the spring stiffness towards infinity and compare your natural frequencies with
Homework #1.

f) Increase the spring stiffness towards

infinity and decrease your mass towards
zero and compute the natural frequencies.
What do expect the resulting natural
frequencies to resemble? Compare this
result with something we derived in class.