
The stability conditions for this system are determined by examining cer-
tain combinations of the coefficients of this polynomial using the Routh-
Hurwitz stability criterion.
39
7.6
SUMMARY
In this chapter, the derivation of the governing equations of a multi-degree-
of-freedom system was illustrated by making use of force-balance and
moment-balance methods and Lagrange’s equations. Linearization of the
equations governing a nonlinear system was also addressed. Means to deter-
mine the natural frequencies and mode shapes were introduced, and the no-
tions of orthogonality of modes, modal mass, modal stiffness, proportional
damping, modal damping factor, node of a mode, and rigid-body mode were
introduced. The conditions under which conservation of energy, conservation
of linear momentum, and conservation of angular momentum hold during
free-oscillations of a multiple degree-of-freedom system were determined.
Finally, the notion of stability of a linear multi-degree-of-freedom system was
introduced.
422 CHAPTER 7 Multiple Degree-of-Freedom Systems
39
The polynomial given by Eq. (g) is of the form
where b
j
0, j 1, 2, 3, 4. For none of the roots of the polynomial to have positive real parts,
the following criteria must be satisfied
b
1
0,
2
b
1
1
b
3
b
2
2 0,
3
b
1
10
b
3
b
2
b
1
0 b
4
b
3
3 0,
and
4
b
1
100
b
3
b
2
b
1
1
0 b
4
b
3
b
2
000b
4
4 0
l
4
b
1
l
3
b
2
l
2
b
3
l b
4
0
EXERCISES
Section 7.2.1
7.1 Consider the “small” amplitude motions of the
pendulum-absorber system shown in Figure 7.9 and
derive the equations of motion by using force-balance
and moment-balance methods.
7.2 Derive the equations of the hand-arm system
treated in Example 7.11 by using force-balance and
moment-balance methods for “large” and “small” os-
cillations about the nominal position.
7.3 A container of mass m
c
is suspended by two taut
cables of length L as shown in Figure E7.3. The ten-
sion in the cables is T
o
. Inside the container, a mass m
is elastically supported by a spring k.
a) Determine the equivalent spring constant for the
cable-mass system and sketch the equivalent vi-
bratory system.
b) For the equivalent system determined in part (a),
determine the equations governing the motion of
this system.