Dynamics of Structures

General characterization

Prerequisites

Knowledege of Statics, Strength of Materias and Structural Analysis.

Bibliography

Anil K. Chopra. Dynamics of Structures: Theory and Applications to Earthquake Engineering. Prentice-Hall, September 2006

Ray W. Clough and Joseph Penzien. Dynamics of structures. McGraw-Hill, ISBN-13: 9780070113947, March 1993

NP EN 1998-1 2010

Teaching method

The discipline consists of set of theoretical and practical classes. In the  theoretical ones, the students are introduced to the basic principles of the dynamic analysis of Civil Engineering structures, emphasizing the response spectrum modal analysis for multi-degrees-of-freedom systems, according to the EC8. These concepts are applied in the practical classes to solve small exercises.

Apart from these classes and in order to consolidate the acquired knowledge, the students, formed into groups, will design, implement and test on an educational shake table a small scale prototype of a Civil Engineering structure.

The assessment of the acquired knowledge has several components: a final exam, with a weight of 65% in the final mark, a continuous evaluation  throughout the semester that classify the performance of students in practical classes, weighting of 10%, and the mark obtained in the practical work, with a weight of 25%.

 

Evaluation method

According to Article 1 of the Assessment Regulation revised on 31/07/2020, the planned continuous assessment consists of:

• Theoretical-practical assessment: two written in-person tests throughout the teaching period. The course material will be divided into two parts (A and B). The parts generally correspond to the material taught up to the week prior to each test.

  • Test 1 (approx. 1.5 hours): Part A – 24/10/2024 

  • Test 2 (approx. 1.5 hours): Part B – 05/12/2022 

Each part will be graded from 0 to 20 points. There is no minimum grade required in either part.

• Laboratory assessment: one group project

The final grade for the course will be calculated using the following formula:
FG = 0.375(PA + PB) + 0.25LP, where:

• PA and PB are the grades of each part (without rounding);

• LP is the grade of the practical work to be carried out during the semester and submitted within the stipulated deadline (graded from 0 to 20 points).

To pass, the student must achieve FG ≥ 9.5 points.

Students who do not pass via the tests will have the right to a resit exam (covering all the course material), which will replace the grades of the two tests. The assessment of the practical work will count in the same way as in the test-based assessment.

Students who obtain a final grade equal to or greater than 17 points must take an oral exam to confirm the grade. In this case, the student’s grade will be the grade obtained in the oral exam. If they choose not to take the oral exam, they will be awarded a grade of 16 points.

Subject matter

• Introduction to Dynamics of Structures
• Dynamic response of one degree-of-freedom systems
  
  • Free vibrations
  • Response to harmonic excitation
  • Response to other loading functions
  • Rayleigh method
  • Response to earthquakes using response spectras
• Dynamic response of multi degrees-of-freedom systems
  
  • Stiffness, mass and damping matrices
  • Modal analysis of multi dof systems
  • Response to earthquakes
• Structural design for seismic resistance (NP EN 1998-1 2010)

Programs

Programs where the course is taught: