Prestressed Modal Analysis Using Finite

Element Package ANSYS

R. Bedri and M.O. Al-Nais

College of Technology at Hail,

P.O. Box. 1690 Hail, Saudi Arabia
Tel: +966 531 7705 ext 240
Fax: +966 531 7704
r bedri@yahoo.com

Abstract. It is customary to perform modal analysis on mechanical

systems without due regards to their stress state. This approach is of
course well accepted in general but can prove inadequate when dealing
with cases like spinning blade turbines or stretched strings, to name but
these two examples.
It is believed that the stress stiffening can change the response fre-
quencies of a system which impacts both modal and transient dynamic
responses of the system. This is explained by the fact that the stress
state would influence the values of the stiffness matrix.
Some other examples can be inspired directly from our daily life, i.e.,
nay guitar player or pianist would explain that tuning of his playing
instrument is intimately related to the amount of tension put on its cords.
It is also expected that the same bridge would have different dynamic
responses at night and day in places where daily temperature fluctuations
are severe.
These issues are unfortunately no sufficiently well addressed in vibra-
tion textbooks when not totally ignored.
In this contribution, it is intended to investigate the effect of pre-
stress on the vibration behavior of simple structures using finite element
package ANSYS. This is achieved by first performing a structural analysis
on a loaded structure then make us of the resulting stress field to proceed
on a modal analysis.

Keywords: Pre-stress, Modal analysis, Vibrations, Finite elements,

ANSYS.

1 Scope
In this investigation, we are concerned by the effect of pressure loads on the
dynamic response of shell structures.
A modal analysis is first undertaken to ascertain for the eigen-solutions for an
unloaded annulus shell using a commercial finite element package ANSYS ([1]).
In the second phase, a structural analysis is performed on the shell. Dif-
ferent pressure loads are applied and the resulting stress and strain fields are
determined.

Z. Li et al. (Eds.): NAA 2004, LNCS 3401, pp. 171–178, 2005.

c Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2005
172 R. Bedri and M.O. Al-Nais

In the third phase, these fields are then used as pre-stress and new modal
analyses are performed on the pre-loaded shell.
The details on geometry, boundary conditions, and loading conditions are
depicted in the procedure section.

2 Theory
The equation of motion ([3]) for a body is given in tensorial notation by

∂2u
∇.σ + f = ρ (1)
∂t2
where σ represents the second order stress tensor, f the body force vector, ρ the
density and u the displacement field.
Expressed in indicial notation (1) can be recast as

σji,j + fi = ρi,tt (2)

From the theory of elasticity, we know that the generalized Hookes law relates
the nine components of stress to the nine components of strain by the linear
relation:
σij = cijkl ekl (3)
where ekl are the infinitesimal strain components, σij are the Cauchy stress
components and cijkl are the material parameters.
Furthermore, for an isotropic material ([3]) (3) simplifies to

σij = 2µeij + λδij ekk (4)

where µ and λ are the so called Lame constants.

For boundary-value problems of the first kind, it is convenient and customary
to recast (1) in terms of the displacement field ū, amenable to finite element
treatment.
(λ + µ)grad(divu) + µ∇2 u + f = ρü (5)
These equations are the so called Navier equations of motion ([3]).
For the 3-D elasticity problem, this equation becomes an elliptic boundary
problem. We can recall that the it is possible to find a weak form or a Galerkin
form ([4]) i.e.,
L(u, v) = (f, v) instead of Lu = f (6)
where Lu = f is the generalization of the differential equation and L is a linear
operator and (,) stands for the dot product.
The finite element solution: the differential equation is discretized into a series
of finite element equations that form a system of algebraic equations to be solved:

[K]{u} = {F }
 Prestressed Modal Analysis Using Finite Element Package ANSYS 173

where [K] is the stiffness matrix, {u} is the nodal displacement vector and {F }
is the applied load vector. These equations are solved in ANSYS ([1]) either by
the method of Frontal solver or by the method of Conjugate gradient solver.
Modal analysis consists in solving an associated eigenvalue problem in the
form

[k] − ω̄ 2 [M ] {u} = {0} (7)
where [K] is the stiffness matrix and [M ] is the consistent mass matrix that is
obtained by 
[M ] = ρ[N ]T [N ]dv (8)
v

[N ] being the shape functions matrix.

For the prestressed modal analysis, the stiffness matrix [K] is being corrected
to take into account the stress field.

3 Procedure
In the preprocessor of ANSYS ([1]) geometric modelling of our eigenvalue prob-
lem (modal analysis) and then of our boundary value problem (static analysis)
is being defined: an annulus with internal radius r1 = 0.5m and external radius
r2 = 0.8m. A corresponding finite element model is obtained by meshing the
geometric model using 60 elements.

Element type chosen: ANSYS shell 63 see fig.(3) in appendix for ample descrip-
tion.
Thickness:0.003m
Elastic properties:
Youngs modulus of elasticity: 193 GPa
Poissons ratio:0.29
Material density: 8030 kg/m3
Constraints: mixed type boundary conditions

For r = r1 , the six translations and rotations are being set to zero, i.e. ū =
{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0}.

3.1 Modal Analysis: Stress Free Modal Analysis

In the solution processor of ANSYS, modal analysis type is first chosen with
Lanczos ([9]) extraction and expansion method. The eigen solutions obtained
are analyzed and presented in the general postprocessor. The first five modes of
vibration are tabulated in tables 1 and 2. The mode shapes are also included in
the appendix.

3.2 Static Analysis

Static type analysis is now selected. Ten different sets of pressure loads are being
applied to the annulus on its outer boundary i.e., r = r2 . Details can be seen on
174 R. Bedri and M.O. Al-Nais

tables 1 and 2. For each loading case, prestress effect is being activated in the
analysis option of the program. The resulting stress field is then applied when
it comes to performing subsequently modal analysis on the annulus.

3.3 Modal Analysis with Prestress Effect

Once the stress field is being established from the above static analysis, it is
applied as prestress to the shell structure through the activation of this option
in the subsequent modal analysis. This procedure is reproduced for the twenty
different preloading cases.

4 Results
The results of the different analyses i.e., modal analysis of the stress free annulus
the static analysis and then the modal analysis of the preloaded structure, are
all summarized and displayed in tabular form see tables 1 and 2 in the appendix.
To ascertain the effect of the prestress level on the modes of vibration, some
further calculations are done and presented in tables 3 and 4 in the appendix.
Plots of prestress level versus percent increase or decrease in frequencies are
plotted respectively in figures 1 and 2.

5 Comments on Results
5.1. Prestress produces no effect on the mode shapes of vibration of the shell
structure.
5.2. By examining the results presented in tables 1 and 2, it is evident that the
frequencies are impacted by preloading. The effect of such preloading seems
to be more apparent on the first modes than on the higher ones. The plotted
curves of figures 1 and 2 are here to corroborate these conclusions.
5.3. A closer look at these curves discloses that there seems to be a linear
correlation between the prestress level and the percent frequency increase or
decrease for each mode of vibration.
5.4. Tensile preloading produces an increase in frequency whereas compressive
preloading results in a decrease in frequency.

6 Conclusions
Three pieces of conclusions can be inferred from this study:
6.1. The mode shapes of vibration of the structure are not sensitive to
preloading.
6.2. Prestressing seems to impact the dynamic behavior of the structure.
6.3. Tensile prestress acts as a stiffener and enhances the dynamic character-
istics of the structure resulting in frequency increase. Whereas compressive
prestress has a converse effect on the structure by reducing its frequencies.
 Prestressed Modal Analysis Using Finite Element Package ANSYS 175

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176 R. Bedri and M.O. Al-Nais

Appendix

Table 1. The first five modes against the tensile prestress levels

Mode Tensile Prestress in N/m

0 103 2.103 4.103 8.103 16.103 32.103 64.103 105 2.105 3.105
Frequency in kHz
1 2.602 2.603 2.604 2.606 2.610 2.618 2.633 2.664 2.698 2.789 2.876
2 2.634 2.635 2.636 2.638 2.642 2.649 2.665 2.695 2.729 2.821 2.904
3 2.656 2.657 2.658 2.660 2.664 2.672 2.688 2.718 2.752 2.844 2.932
4 2.790 2.791 2.792 2.794 2.798 2.805 2.821 2.852 2.885 2.977 3.065
5 2.839 2.840 2.841 2.843 2.847 2.855 2.870 2.901 2.935 3.027 3.115

Table 2. The first five modes against the compressive prestress levels

Mode Pressure Prestress in N/m

0 103 2.103 4.103 8.103 16.103 32.103 64.103 105 2.105 3.105
Frequency in kHz
1 2.602 2.601 2.600 2.598 2.594 2.587 2.571 2.539 2.502 2.396 2.285
2 2.634 2.633 2.632 2.630 2.626 2.618 2.602 2.570 2.533 2.428 2.316
3 2.656 2.655 2.654 2.652 2.648 2.641 2.625 2.593 2.556 2.450 2.338
4 2.790 2.789 2.788 2.786 2.782 2.774 2.758 2.726 2.690 2.585 2.474
5 2.839 2.838 2.837 2.835 2.831 2.823 2.807 2.775 2.739 2.634 2.523

Fig. 1. % Frequency increase versus Prestress

 Prestressed Modal Analysis Using Finite Element Package ANSYS 177

Table 3. The percent frequency increase against prestress levels

Mode Tensile Prestress in N/m

103 2.103 4.103 8.103 16.103 32.103 64.103 105 2.105 3.105
% increase in frequency
1 0.038 0.077 0.154 0.307 0.615 1.191 2.383 3.689 7.187 10.530
2 0.038 0.076 0.152 0.304 0.569 1.177 2.316 3.607 7.099 10.250
3 0.038 0.075 0.151 0.301 0.602 1.205 2.184 3.614 7.078 10.391
4 0.036 0.072 0.143 0.287 0.538 1.111 2.222 3.405 6.702 9.857
5 0.035 0.070 0.141 0.282 0.563 1.092 2.184 3.381 6.622 9.722

Table 4. The percent frequency decrease against prestress levels

Mode Pressure Prestress in N/m

103 2.103 4.103 8.103 16.103 32.103 64.103 105 2.105 3.105
% decrease in frequency
1 0.038 0.077 0.154 0.307 0.576 1.191 2.421 3.843 7.917 12.183
2 0.038 0.076 0.152 0.304 0.607 1.215 2.430 3.834 7.821 12.073
3 0.038 0.075 0.151 0.301 0.565 1.167 2.372 3.765 7.756 11.973
4 0.036 0.072 0.143 0.287 0.573 1.147 2.294 3.584 7.348 11.326
5 0.035 0.070 0.141 0.282 0.563 1.127 2.254 3.522 7.221 11.131

Fig. 2. % Frequency Decrease versus Pressure Level

178 R. Bedri and M.O. Al-Nais

Fig. 3

Fig. 4