Dynamics of structures

The course studies the time dependent behavior of constructions and buildings excited by dynamic forces. The course starts with the analysis of systems with one, two and several degrees of freedom, with and without damping, and also deals with simple continuous structures (beams and bars). The course continues with a short description of the different types of dynamic excitations including earthquakes, wind (including an introduction to self-excited vibrations and instabilities) and walking pedestrians. The effects of these sources of excitations on civil engineering structures are discussed, together with modeling strategies including finite element models. Design modifications and remedial measures are presented and illiustrated for different case studies. A chapter is also dedicated to instrumentation, data acquisition and signal processing for experimental dynamics

The students will learn how to model time dependant dynamic behavior of structures. Emphasis is put on the ability to derive simple models from real complex structures and to compute their dynamic response due to different types of excitations.

The students will also develop a deep understanding of the effects of vibrations (positive or negative) on structures, and the possible design modifications and remedial measures.

Cours ayant celui-ci comme pré-requis

The course consists in 12 lectures of 2 hours for the theoretical part. A deeper understanding of the theoretical concepts is achieved through the participation to 24 hours of exercises including a project.

Contribution au profil d'enseignement

This teaching unit contributes to the following competences:

• In-depth knowledge and understanding of exact sciences with the specificity of their application to engineering

• Reformulate complex engineering problems in order to solve them (simplifying assumptions, reducing complexity)

• Correctly report on research or design results in the form of a technical report or in the form of a scientific paper

• Present and defend results in a scientifically sound way, using contemporary communication tools, for a national as well as for an international professional or lay audience

• Collaborate in a (multidisciplinary) team

• Combine computational modelling methods and experimental techniques to tackle complex structural and material analysis problems

Références, bibliographie et lectures recommandées

• H. Bachmann, Vibration problems in Structures, Birkhauser Verlag, 1995

• Inman, D.J - Engineering vibrations. Prentice Hall, 3d Edition, 2007-Géradin M., Rixen D. Mechanical Vibrations - Theory and Application to Structural Dynamics. John Wiley & Sons, second edition, 1997

Support(s) de cours

• Podcast
• Syllabus

Contacts

Arnaud Deraemaeker (arnaud.deraemaeker@ulb.be)

Campus

Solbosch

Méthode(s) d'évaluation

• Projet
• Examen oral
• Autre

Projet

Examen oral

Autre

The evaluation consists in an oral examination as well as the evaluation of the exercise sessions and project.

Construction de la note (en ce compris, la pondération des notes partielles)

75% for the oral examination and 25% for the exercise sessions and project.

The presence at the exercise sessions is compulsory. The professor may refuse the participation to the oral examination in case of non justified absence at the exercise sessions.

Langue(s) d'évaluation

• anglais