given K
s
and
s
indicates that this is the frequency and mode shape that is as-
sociated with the single degree-of-freedom system. We denote this frequency
coefficient
n,sdof
. It is seen from the results in the table that the single degree-
of-freedom system always affects the mode that is associated with the smallest
value of
n,ref
that is greater than
s
such that the resulting natural-frequency
values are ordered as
n,sdof
n,ref
n1
where
n1
is the natural-
frequency coefficient for the system with the single degree-of-freedom system
attached. For example, when K
s
5.0,
s
/p 0.8464, which is less
than
2,ref
/p 1.4004. We see that Z
o
/W
n
(h
1
) 2.495 is the maximum value,
which occurs at n 2; thus, (
2
/p 0.9218) (
2,ref
1.4004)
(
3
/0.1.5116). Thus, we see that the effect of the single degree-of-freedom
system is to “split” the affected
n,ref
into two modes, one whose natural fre-
quency is less than
n,ref
and one that is greater than
n,ref
.
We now discuss further the type of information that is contained in the
mode shape ratio Z
o
/W
n
(h
1
). A positive value of Z
o
/W
n
(h
1
) indicates that the
single degree-of-freedom mass M
s
is in phase with the beam displacement at
the point of attachment and a negative value of Z
o
/W
n
(h
1
) indicates that the
single degree-of-freedom mass M
s
is out of phase. This type of in phase and
out of phase motion is similar to that obtained for a two degree-of-freedom
system. However, when Z
o
/W
n
(h
1
) 1 the mass M
s
and the beam displace-
ment at h
1
are almost equal and the beam is behaving as if the mass were
attached directly to the beam. We see from the column labeled n 1 in
Table 9.8 that the natural-frequency coefficient is very closely equal to that of
a beam carrying a mass only. This also is seen in the column labeled n 2
for the case when K
s
500.
The variations of the lowest natural frequency of a beam with a single
degree-of-freedom system with respect to M
so
for many different values of
s
are given in Figure 9.18 for the hinged-hinged beam for h
1
0.5, in Figure
9.19 for clamped-clamped beam for h
1
0.5, and in Figure 9.20 for the
clamped-free beam for h
1
1.0. In each of these figures, we have plotted for
reference the variation of the lowest natural frequency of a beam with only a
mass M
so
attached. This natural-frequency coefficient is denoted These
reference curves are the same as those presented in Figures 9.15 to 9.17 at the
appropriate value of h
1
.
Comparison with two springs in series approximation As discussed in
Chapter 2, in many situations where an inertia element is attached to a beam,
the beam stiffness is taken into account to establish an equivalent single-
degree-of-freedom system. This situation is revisited in the context of the
beam system shown in Figure 9.11c to point out when it is reasonable to neg-
lect the beam inertia and when it is not. First, we consider the determination
of the natural frequency of an equivalent single degree-of-freedom system.
This is done by using the static stiffness values given for Cases 4, 5, and 6 of
Table 2.3 for the cantilever, pinned pinned and clamped-clamped beams, re-
spectively. In each case, the approximation obtained for the first natural fre-
quency of the system shown in Table 2.3 is compared to the natural frequency
obtained when the inertia of the beam is taken into account. We note from the
M
so
,1
.
9.3 Free Oscillations 605