Lecture 16 Damped Motion

Damped Motion
In the previous lecture, we discussed the free harmonic motion that assumes no retarding
forces acting on the moving mass. However
 No retarding forces acting on the moving body is not realistic, because
 There always exists at least a resisting force due to surrounding medium.
For example a mass can be suspended in a viscous medium. Hence, the damping forces
need to be included in a realistic analysis.
Damping Force
In the study of mechanics, the damping forces acting on a body are considered to be
dx
proportional to a power of the instantaneous velocity . In the hydro dynamical
dt
problems, the damping force is proportional to dx / dt 2 . So that in these problems
2
 dx 
Damping force  -β  
 dt 
Where β is a positive damping constant and negative sign indicates that the damping
force acts in a direction opposite to the direction of motion.
In the present discussion, we shall assume that the damping force is proportional to the
dx
instantaneous velocity . Thus for us
dt
 dx 
Damping force  -β  
 dt 
The Differential Equation
Suppose That
 A body of mass m is attached to a spring.
 The spring stretches by an amount s to attain the equilibrium position.
 The mass is further displaced by an amount x and then released.
 No external forces are impressed on the system.
Therefore, there are three forces acting on the mass, namely:
a) Weight mg of the body
b) Restoring force  k s  x 

 dx 
c) Damping force -β  
 dt 
Therefore, total force acting on the mass m is

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Lecture 16 Damped Motion

 dx 
mg  k s  x   β  
 dt 
So that by Newton’s second law of motion, we have
d 2x  dx 
m  mg  k s  x   β  
dt 2
 dt 
Since in the equilibrium position
mg  ks  0

d 2x  dx 
Therefore m  kx  β  
dt 2
 dt 
Dividing with m , we obtain the differential equation of free damped motion
d 2 x β  dx  k
   x 0
dt 2 m  dt  m
For algebraic convenience, we suppose that
β k
2λ  , 2 
m m
Then the equation becomes:
d 2x dx
2
 2λ   2 x  0
dt dt
Solution of the Differential Equation
Consider the equation of the free damped motion
d 2x dx
2
 2λ   2 x  0
dt dt
dx d 2x
Put x  e mt ,  me mt , 2
 m 2 e mt
dt dt
Then the auxiliary equation is:
m 2  2 λm   2  0
Solving by use of quadratic formula, we obtain

m   λ  λ2   2
Thus the roots of the auxiliary equation are

m1   λ  λ 2   2 , m2   λ  λ 2   2

Depending upon the sign of the quantity 2   2 , we can now distinguish three possible
cases of the roots of the auxiliary equation.

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Lecture 16 Damped Motion

Case 1 Real and distinct roots

If λ 2   2  0 then β  k and the system is said to be over-damped. The solution of the

equation of free damped motion is
xt   c1e m1t  c2 e m2t

or 
xt   e t c1e 2  2 t
 c2 e  2  2 t

This equation represents smooth and non oscillatory motion.
Case 2 Real and equal roots
If 2   2  0 , then β  k and the system is said to be critically damped, because any
slight decrease in the damping force would result in oscillatory motion. The general
solution of the differential equation of free damped force is
xt   c1e m1 t  c2 te m1 t

or xt   e  t c1  c 2 t 
Case 3 Complex roots
If 2  w 2  0 , then β  k and the system is said to be under-damped. We need to
rewrite the roots of the auxiliary equation as:

m1     2  2 i, m2     2  2 i
Thus, the general solution of the equation of free damped motion is

xt   e  λt c1 cos  2  λ 2 t  c2 sin  2  λ 2 t 

 
This represents an oscillatory motion; but amplitude of vibration  0 as t   because of
the coefficient e t .
Note that
t
Each of the three solutions contain the damping factor e ,   0, the displacements of
the mass become negligible for larger times.

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Lecture 16 Damped Motion

Alternative form of the Solution

When 2   2  0 , the solution of the differential equation of free damped motion
d 2x dx
2
 2  2x  0
dt dt

is xt   e  λt c1 cos  2  λ 2 t  c2 sin  2  λ 2 t 

 
Suppose that A and  are two real numbers such that
c1 c
sin   , cos   2
A A
c1
So that A  c12  c2 2 , tan  
c2
The number  is known as the phase angle. Then the solution of the equation becomes:

xt   Ae t sin  2  2 t cos   cos  2  2 t sin  

 

or 
xt   Ae t sin  2  λ 2 t   
Note that
 The coefficient Ae t is called the damped amplitude of vibrations.
 The time interval between two successive maxima of xt  is called quasi period,
and is given by the number
2
 2  2
 The following number is known as the quasi frequency.
 2  2
2
The graph of the solution
 


xt   Ae  λt sin  2  λ 2 t  
crosses positive t-axis, i.e the line x  0 , at times that are given by
 2  λ 2 t    n
Where n  1,2,3, .
For example, if we have
 
xt   e 0.5t sin  2t  
 3

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Lecture 16 Damped Motion


Then 2t   n
3
  
or 2t1   0, 2t 2    , 2t 3   2 , 
3 3 3
 4 7
or t1  , t2  , t3  ,
6 6 6
We notice that difference between two successive roots is
 1
t k  t k 1   quasi period
2 2
2
Since quasi period    . Therefore
2
 1
t k  t k 1   quasi period
2 2
 Since xt   Ae t when sin  2   2 t    1 , the graph of the solution


xt   Ae t sin  2  λ 2 t   
touches the graphs of the exponential functions
 Ae t
at the values of t for which

sin  2  λ 2 t    1 
This means those values of t for which

 2  λ 2 t    2n  1
2
or t
2n  1( / 2)   where n  0,1, 2,3,
 2  λ2
Again, if we consider
 
xt   e 0.5t sin  2t  
 3
   3  5
Then 2t1*   , 2t 2*   , 2t 3*   ,
3 2 3 2 3 2
5 11 17
t1  , t2  , t3 
* * *
Or ,
12 12 12
Again, we notice that the difference between successive values is

t k *  t k*1 
2
The values of t for which the graph of the solution
 


xt   Ae t sin  2  λ 2 t  

touches the exponential graph are not the values for which the function attains its
relative extremum.

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Lecture 16 Damped Motion

Example 1
Interpret and solve the initial value problem
d 2x dx
2
5  4x  0
dt dt
x0  1, x 0  1
Find extreme values of the solution and check whether the graph crosses the equilibrium
position.
Interpretation
Comparing the given differential equation
d 2x dx
2
5  4x  0
dt dt
with the general equation of the free damped motion

d 2x dx
2
 2 λ  2x  0
dt dt
we see that
5
λ , 2  4
2
so that λ2  2  0
Therefore, the problem represents the over-damped motion of a mass on a spring.
Inspection of the boundary conditions
x0  1, x 0  1
reveals that the mass starts 1 unit below the equilibrium position with a downward
velocity of 1 ft/sec.
Solution
To solve the differential equation
d 2x dx
5  4x  0
dt 2 dt

dx d 2x
We put x  e mt ,  me mt , 2
 m 2 e mt
dt dt
Then the auxiliary equation is
m 2  5m  4  0
 m  4m  1  0
 m  1, m  4 ,

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Lecture 16 Damped Motion

Therefore, the auxiliary equation has distinct real roots

m  1, m  4
Thus the solution of the differential equation is:

xt   c1e t  c2 e 4t

So that xt   c1e t  4c2 e 4t

Now, we apply the boundary conditions
x0  1  c1.1  c2 .1  1
x 0  1  c1  4c2  1
Thus
c1  c2  1
 c1  4c2  1
Solving these two equations, we have.
5 2
c1  , c 2  
3 3
Therefore, solution of the initial value problem is
xt   e t  e 4t
5 2
3 3
Extremum
xt   e t  e 4t
5 2
Since
3 3
dx 5 t 8  4 t
Therefore  e  e
dt 3 3

x t   0   e t  e 4t  0
5 8
So that
3 3
8 1 8
or e3t   t  ln
5 3 5
or t  0.157

d 2x 5 32
Since 2
 e t  e 4t
dt 3 3
Therefore at t  0.157, we have

d 2x 5  0.157 32  0.628
 e  e
dt 2 3 3
 1.425  5.692  4.267  0

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Lecture 16 Damped Motion

So that the solution xt  has a maximum at t  0.157 and maximum value of x is:
x0.157   1.069
Hence the mass attains an extreme displacement of 1.069 ft below the equilibrium
position.
Check
Suppose that the graph of xt  does cross the t  axis , that is, the mass passes through
the equilibrium position. Then a value of t exists for which
xt   0
5 t 2  4 t
i.e e  e 0
3 3
2
 e 3t 
5
1 2
or t  ln  0.305
3 5
This value of t is physically irrelevant because time can never be negative. Hence, the
mass never passes through the equilibrium position.
Example 2
An 8-lb weight stretches a spring 2ft. Assuming that a damping force numerically equals
to two times the instantaneous velocity acts on the system. Determine the equation of
motion if the weight is released from the equilibrium position with an upward velocity of
3 ft / sec.
Solution
Since
Weight  8 lbs , Stretch  s  2 ft
Therefore, by Hook’s law
8  2k
 k  4 lb / ft

 dx 
Since Damping force  2 
 dt 
Therefore β2
Weight 8 1
Also mass   m  slugs
g 32 4

Thus, the differential equation of motion of the free damped motion is given by

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Lecture 16 Damped Motion

d 2x  dx 
m  kx  β  
dt 2
 dt 
1 d 2x  dx 
or  4 x  2 
4 dt 2
 dt 
d 2x dx
or 2
8  16 x  0
dt dt
Since the mass is released from equilibrium position with an upward velocity 3 ft / s .
Therefore the initial conditions are:
x0  0, x0  3
Thus we need to solve the initial value problem
d 2x dx
Solve 2
8  16 x  0
dt dt
Subject to x0  0, x0  3

dx d 2x
Put x  e mt ,  memt , 2
 m 2e mt
dt dt
Thus the auxiliary equation is
m 2  8m  16  0

or m  42  0  m  4, 4
So that roots of the auxiliary equation are real and equal.
m1  4  m2
Hence the system is critically damped and the solution of the governing differential
equation is
xt   c1e 4t  c2te 4t
Moreover, the system is critically damped.
We now apply the boundary conditions.
x0  0  c1.1  c2 .0  0
 c1  0

Thus xt   c2te4t

dx
  c2 e  4t  4c2te  4t
dt

9
Lecture 16 Damped Motion

So that x0  3  c2 .1  0  3
 c2  3
Thus solution of the initial value problem is

xt   3te 4t

Extremum
Since xt   3te 4t
dx
Therefore  3e  4t  12te  4t
dt
 3e 4t 1  4t 
dx 1
Thus 0t 
dt 4
The corresponding extreme displacement is
1 1
x   3 e 1  0.276 ft
4 4
Thus the weight reaches a maximum height of 0.276 ft above the equilibrium position.
Example 3
A 16-lb weight is attached to a 5 - ft long spring. At equilibrium the spring measures
8.2ft .If the weight is pushed up and released from rest at a point 2 - ft above the
equilibrium position. Find the displacement xt  if it is further known that the
surrounding medium offers a resistance numerically equal to the instantaneous velocity.
Solution
Length of un - stretched spring  5 ft
Length of spring at equilibrium  8.2 ft
Thus Elongation of spring  s  3.2 ft
By Hook’s law, we have
16  k 3.2  k  5 lb / ft
Weight 16 1
Further mass  m  slugs
g 32 2
dx
Since Damping force 
dt
Therefore  1

10
Lecture 16 Damped Motion

Thus the differential equation of the free damped motion is given by

d 2x dx
m 2
 kx  β
dt dt

1 d 2x dx
or 2
 5 x 
2 dt dt

d 2x dx
or 2
2  10 x  0
dt dt
Since the spring is released from rest at a point 2 ft above the equilibrium position.
The initial conditions are:
x0  2, x 0  0
Hence we need to solve the initial value problem
d 2x dx
2  10 x  0
dt 2 dt
x0  2, x 0  0
To solve the differential equation, we put
dx d 2x
xe , mt
 me ,
mt
2
 m 2e mt .
dt dt
Then the auxiliary equation is

m 2  2m  10  0
or m  1  3i
So that the auxiliary equation has complex roots
m1  1  3i, m2  1  3i
The system is under-damped and the solution of the differential equation is:

xt   e t c1 cos 3t  c2 sin 3t 

Now we apply the boundary conditions
x0  2  c1.1  c2 .0  2
 c1  2

Thus xt   e t  2 cos 3t  c 2 sin 3t 

 e  t 6 sin 3t  3c 2 cos 3t   e  t  2 cos 3t  c 2 sin 3t 

dx
dt

11
Lecture 16 Damped Motion

Therefore x0  0  3c2  2  0

2
c2 
3
Hence, solution of the initial value problem is
 
xt   e  t   2 cos 3t  sin 3t 
2
 3 
Example 4
Write the solution of the initial value problem
d 2x dx
2
 2  10 x  0
dt dt
x0  2, x 0  0
in the alternative form
xt   Ae t sin 3t   
Solution
We know from previous example that the solution of the initial value problem is
 
xt   e t   2 cos 3t  sin 3t 
2
 3 
Suppose that A and  are real numbers such that
2  2/3
sin    , cos  
A A
4 2
Then A 4  10
9 3
2
Also tan   3
 2/3
Therefore tan 1 3  1.249 radian
Since sin   0, cos  0, the phase angle  must be in 3rd quadrant.
Therefore
    1.249  4.391 radians
Hence
xt   10e t sin 3t  4.391
2
3
The values of t  t where the graph of the solution crosses positive t - axis and the
 2
values t  t  where the graph of the solution touches the graphs of    10e t are
*

 3
given in the following table.

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Lecture 16 Damped Motion

 t t*  
x t*
1 .631 1.154 0.665
2 1.678 2.202 -0.233
3 2.725 3.249 0.082
4 3.772 4.296 -0.029
Quasi Period
xt   10e t sin 3t  4.391
2
Since
3
Therefore 2   2  3
So that the quasi period is given by
2 2
 seconds
2   2 3

Hence, difference between the successive t and t* is units.
3

13
Lecture 16 Damped Motion

Practice Exercise

Give a possible interpretation of the given initial value problems.

x0   0 , x 0   1.5
1
1. x   2 x   x  0 ,
6
x0   2 , x 0  1
16
2. x   x   2 x  0,
32
3. A 4-lb weight is attached to a spring whose constant is 2 lb /ft. The medium offers
a resistance to the motion of the weight numerically equal to the instantaneous
velocity. If the weight is released from a point 1 ft above the equilibrium position
with a downward velocity of 8 ft / s, determine the time that the weight passes
through the equilibrium position. Find the time for which the weight attains its
extreme displacement from the equilibrium position. What is the position of the
weight at this instant?
4. A 4-ft spring measures 8 ft long after an 8-lb weight is attached to it. The medium
through which the weight moves offers a resistance numerically equal to 2 times
the instantaneous velocity. Find the equation of motion if the weight is released
from the equilibrium position with a downward velocity of 5 ft / s. Find the time
for which the weight attains its extreme displacement from the equilibrium
position. What is the position of the weight at this instant?
5. A 1-kg mass is attached to a spring whose constant is 16 N / m and the entire
system is then submerged in to a liquid that imparts a damping force numerically
equal to 10 times the instantaneous velocity. Determine the equations of motion if
a. The weight is released from rest 1m below the equilibrium position;
and
b. The weight is released 1m below the equilibrium position with and
upward velocity of 12 m/s.
6. A force of 2-lb stretches a spring 1 ft. A 3.2-lb weight is attached to the spring
and the system is then immersed in a medium that imparts damping force
numerically equal to 0.4 times the instantaneous velocity.
a. Find the equation of motion if the weight is released from rest 1 ft above the
equilibrium position.
 
b. Express the equation of motion in the form x  t   Aet sin  2   2 t  
c. Find the first times for which the weight passes through the equilibrium
position heading upward.
7. After a 10-lb weight is attached to a 5-ft spring, the spring measures 7-ft long.
The 10-lb weight is removed and replaced with an 8-lb weight and the entire
system is placed in a medium offering a resistance numerically equal to the
instantaneous velocity.
a. Find the equation of motion if the weight is released 1/ 2 ft below the
equilibrium position with a downward velocity of 1ft / s.
 
b. Express the equation of motion in the form x  t   Aet sin  2   2 t  
c. Find the time for which the weight passes through the equilibrium position
heading downward.

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Lecture 16 Damped Motion

8. A 10-lb weight attached to a spring stretches it 2 ft. The weight is attached to a

dashpot-damping device that offers a resistance numerically equal to    0
times the instantaneous velocity. Determine the values of the damping constant
 so that the subsequent motion is
a. Over-damped
b. Critically damped
c. Under-damped
9. A mass of 40 g. stretches a spring 10cm. A damping device imparts a resistance to
motion numerically equal to 560 (measured in dynes /(cm / s)) times the
instantaneous velocity. Find the equation of motion if the mass is released from
the equilibrium position with downward velocity of 2 cm / s.
10. The quasi period of an under-damped, vibrating 1-slugs mass of a spring is  / 2
seconds. If the spring constant is 25 lb / ft, find the damping constant  .

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