Chapter 5:

Random Vibration

ANSYS Mechanical

Dynamics

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary 5-1 July 2009

© 2009 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved. Inventory #002666
Random Vibration Analysis
Random Vibration Analysis Training Manual

Topics covered:
• Definition and purpose
• Overview of Workbench capabilities
• Procedure

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary 5-2 July 2009

© 2009 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved. Inventory #002666
Random Vibration Analysis
A. Definition and Purpose Training Manual

What is random vibration analysis?

– A spectrum analysis technique based on probability and statistics.
– Meant for loads such as acceleration loads in a rocket launch that
produce different time histories during every launch .

Reference: Random vibrations in mechanical systems by Crandall & Mark

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary 5-3 July 2009

© 2009 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved. Inventory #002666
Random Vibration Analysis
… Definition and Purpose Training Manual

• Transient analysis is not an option since the time history is not

deterministic (sample is not repeatable).
• Instead, using statistics the sample time histories are converted to
Power Spectral Density function (PSD), a statistical representation of
the load time history.

Image from “Random Vibrations Theory and Practice” by Wirsching, Paez and Ortiz.

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary 5-4 July 2009

© 2009 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved. Inventory #002666
Random Vibration Analysis
Power Spectral Density Training Manual

• Sample time histories are converted to Power Spectral Density

function (PSD), a statistical representation of the load time history.

Image from “Random Vibrations Theory and

Reference: Random vibrations in Practice” by Wirsching, Paez and Ortiz.
mechanical systems by Crandall
& Mark

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary 5-5 July 2009

© 2009 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved. Inventory #002666
Random Vibration Analysis
Statistical Representation Training Manual

• A Random Vibration analysis computes the probability distribution of

different results, such as displacement or stress, due to some
random excitation

• The analysis follows a modal analysis

• An internal combination is done to compute the combined effect from

each mode and their interactions.

3s
Gaussian
(normal)
Distribution

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary 5-6 July 2009

© 2009 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved. Inventory #002666
Random Vibration Analysis
Power Spectral Density Training Manual

• The Power Spectral Density is the

mean square value of the excitation
for a unit frequency band.
– The area under a PSD curve is
the variance of the response
(square of the standard
deviation).
– The units used in PSD are mean
square/Hz (e.g. an acceleration
PSD will have units of G2/Hz).
– The quantity represented by
PSD may be displacement,
velocity, acceleration, force, or
pressure.

Random Vibration curve by MIL-STD-202

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary 5-7 July 2009

© 2009 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved. Inventory #002666
Random Vibration Analysis
Common Uses Training Manual

• Commonly used for

– Airborne electronics
– Acoustic loading of Airframe parts
– Jitter in alignment of optical
equipment
– Relative deformation in large
mirrors

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary 5-8 July 2009

© 2009 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved. Inventory #002666
Random Vibration
Workbench Capabilities Training Manual

• Input:
– Natural frequencies and mode shapes from a modal analysis
– Single or multiple PSD excitations applied to ground nodes

• Output:
– 1s results can be contoured like any other analysis.
– Response PSD at one DOF (one point in one direction)

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary 5-9 July 2009

© 2009 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved. Inventory #002666
 Procedure:

Random Vibration

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary 5-10 July 2009

© 2009 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved. Inventory #002666
Random Vibration
Procedure Training Manual

• Drop a Modal (ANSYS) system into the project schematic.

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary 5-11 July 2009

© 2009 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved. Inventory #002666
Random Vibration
Procedure Training Manual

• Drop a Random Vibration system onto the Solution cell of the Modal
system.

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary 5-12 July 2009

© 2009 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved. Inventory #002666
Random Vibration
Procedure Training Manual

• Create new geometry, or link to • Edit the Model cell to bring up the
existing geometry. Mechanical application.

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary 5-13 July 2009

© 2009 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved. Inventory #002666
Random Vibration
Preprocessing Training Manual

• Verify materials, connections, and mesh settings.

– This was covered in Workbench Mechanical Intro.

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary 5-14 July 2009

© 2009 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved. Inventory #002666
Random Vibration
Preprocessing Training Manual

• Add supports to the model.

– Displacement constrains must have a magnitude of zero.

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary 5-15 July 2009

© 2009 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved. Inventory #002666
Random Vibration
Solution Settings Training Manual

• Choose the number of modes to

extract.
• If needed, upper and lower bounds
on frequency may be specified to
extract the modes within a specified
range.

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary 5-16 July 2009

© 2009 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved. Inventory #002666
Random Vibration
Postprocessing Training Manual

• Review the modal results before

proceeding.

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary 5-17 July 2009

© 2009 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved. Inventory #002666
Random Vibration
Preprocessing Training Manual

• Insert an Acceleration, Velocity, or Direction PSD base excitation.

• Set the Boundary Condition, Load (Tabular) Data, and Direction.

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary 5-18 July 2009

© 2009 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved. Inventory #002666
Random Vibration
Postprocessing Training Manual

• Insert Directional Deformation, Velocity, or Acceleration.

– the direction and sigma value may be chosen here
– note that results are always reviewed with scaling set to 0.0

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary 5-19 July 2009

© 2009 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved. Inventory #002666
Random Vibration
Postprocessing Training Manual

• Stress (normal, shear, equivalent) and Strain (normal, shear) results

can also be reviewed.

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary 5-20 July 2009

© 2009 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved. Inventory #002666
Random Vibration
Postprocessing Training Manual

• Response PSD can be plotted at one DOF (one point in one direction,
either absolute or relative to base excitation).

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary 5-21 July 2009

© 2009 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved. Inventory #002666
Workshop – Random Vibration Training Manual

• In workshop 5A, you will determine the displacements and stresses

in a girder assembly due to an acceleration PSD.
WS5A: Random Vibration (PSD) Analysis of a Girder Assembly

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary 5-22 July 2009

© 2009 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved. Inventory #002666