Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 4.

Vibrating String
Introduction
In the following example you compute the natural frequencies of a pre-tensioned
string using the 2D Truss interface. This is an example of “stress stiffening”. In fact
the transverse stiffness of truss elements is directly proportional to the tensile force.

Strings made of piano wire have an extremely high yield limit, thus enabling a wide
range of pre-tension forces.

The results are compared with the analytical solution.

Model Definition
The finite element idealization consists of a single line. The diameter of the wire is
irrelevant for the solution of this particular problem, but it must still be given.

GEOMETRY
• String length, L = 0.5 m
• Cross section diameter 1.0 mm; A = 0.785 mm2

MATERIAL
• Young’s modulus, E = 210 GPa
• Poisson’s ratio, ν = 0.31
• Mass density, ρ = 7850 kg/m3

CONSTRAINTS
Both ends of the wire are fixed.

LOAD
The wire is pre-tensioned to σni = 1520 MPa.

Results and Discussion

The analytical solution for the natural frequencies of the vibrating string (Ref. 1) is

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k σ ni
f k = ------- -------
- (1)
2L ρ

The pre-tensioning stress σni in this example is tuned so that the first natural frequency
will be Concert A; 440 Hz.

In Table 1 the computed results are compared with the results from Equation 1. The
agreement is very good. The accuracy will decrease with increasing complexity of the
mode shape, because the possibility for the relatively coarse mesh to describe such a
shape is limited. The mode shapes for the first three modes are shown in Figure 1
through Figure 3.
TABLE 1: COMPARISON BETWEEN ANALYTICAL AND COMPUTED NATURAL FREQUENCIES

Mode number Analytical frequency (Hz) COMSOL result (Hz)

1 440.0 440.0
2 880.0 880.2
3 1320 1321
4 1760 1763
5 2200 2208

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Figure 1: First eigenmode.

Figure 2: Second eigenmode.

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Figure 3: Third eigenmode.

Notes About the COMSOL Implementation

In this model the stresses are known in advance, so it is possible to use an initial stress
condition. This is shown in the first study.

In a general case, the prestress is given by some external loading. The structural
response of to this loading needs to be calculated and incorporated into the structure
before the eigenfrequency can be computed. Such a study will therefore consist of two
steps: One stationary step for computing the prestressed state, and one step for the
eigenfrequency. The special study type Prestressed Analysis, Eigenfrequency can be used
to set up such a sequence. This is shown in the second study in this example.

Since an unstressed membrane has no stiffness in the transverse direction, it will

generally be difficult to get an analysis to converge without taking special measures.
One such method is shown in the second study: A spring foundation is added during
initial loading, and is then removed.

You must switch on geometrical nonlinearity in the study in order to capture effects of
prestress. This is done automatically when a study of the type Prestressed Analysis,
Eigenfrequency is used.

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Reference
1. R. Knobel, An Introduction to the Mathematical Theory of Waves, The American
Mathematical Society, 2000.

Model Library path: Structural_Mechanics_Module/Verification_Models/

vibrating_string

Modeling Instructions
From the File menu, choose New.

NEW
1 In the New window, click the Model Wizard button.

MODEL WIZARD
1 In the Model Wizard window, click the 2D button.
2 In the Select physics tree, select Structural Mechanics>Truss (truss).
3 Click the Add button.
4 Click the Study button.
5 In the tree, select Preset Studies>Eigenfrequency.
6 Click the Done button.

GEOMETRY 1

Bézier Polygon 1 (b1)

1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1) right-click Geometry 1 and
choose Bézier Polygon.
2 In the Bézier Polygon settings window, locate the Polygon Segments section.
3 Find the Added segments subsection. Click the Add Linear button.
4 Find the Control points subsection. In row 2, set x to 0.5.
5 Click the Build All Objects button.

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MATERIALS

Material 1 (mat1)
1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1) right-click Materials and
choose New Material.
2 In the Material settings window, locate the Material Contents section.
3 In the table, enter the following settings:

Property Name Value Unit Property group

Young's modulus E 210e9 Pa Basic
Poisson's ratio nu 0.31 1 Basic
Density rho 7850 kg/m³ Basic

TR U S S ( T R U S S )

Cross Section Data 1

1 In the Model Builder window, expand the Component 1 (comp1)>Truss (truss) node,
then click Cross Section Data 1.
2 In the Cross Section Data settings window, locate the Cross Section Data section.
3 In the A edit field, type pi/4*0.001^2.

Pinned 1
1 On the Physics toolbar, click Points and choose Pinned.
2 In the Pinned settings window, locate the Point Selection section.
3 From the Selection list, choose All points.
The straight edge constraint must be removed because the vibration gives the string
a curved shape.

Straight Edge Constraint1

In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1)>Truss (truss) right-click
Straight Edge Constraint 1 and choose Disable.

Initial Stress and Strain 1

1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1)>Truss (truss) right-click
Linear Elastic Material 1 and choose Initial Stress and Strain.
2 In the Initial Stress and Strain settings window, locate the Initial Stress and Strain
section.
3 In the σni edit field, type 1520e6.

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MESH 1

Size
1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1) right-click Mesh 1 and
choose Edit Physics-Induced Sequence.
2 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1)>Mesh 1 click Size.
3 In the Size settings window, locate the Element Size section.
4 Click the Custom button.
5 Locate the Element Size Parameters section. In the Maximum element size edit field,
type 0.05.
This setting gives 10 elements for the mesh that COMSOL Multiphysics generates
when you solve the model.
The stiffness caused by the prestress is a nonlinear effect, so geometric nonlinearity
must be switched on.

STUDY 1

Step 1: Eigenfrequency
1 In the Model Builder window, under Study 1 click Step 1: Eigenfrequency.
2 In the Eigenfrequency settings window, locate the Study Settings section.
3 Select the Include geometric nonlinearity check box.
4 On the Home toolbar, click Compute.

RESULTS

Mode Shape (truss)

1 Click the Zoom Extents button on the Graphics toolbar.
The default plot shows the displacement for the first eigenmode.

2 In the 2D Plot Group settings window, locate the Data section.

3 From the Eigenfrequency list, choose 880.162815.
This corresponds to the second eigenmode.
4 On the Mode Shape (truss) toolbar, click Plot.
5 Click the Zoom Extents button on the Graphics toolbar.
6 From the Eigenfrequency list, choose 1320.79575.
This is the third eigenmode.
7 On the Mode Shape (truss) toolbar, click Plot.

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8 Click the Zoom Extents button on the Graphics toolbar.

Now, prepare a second study where the prestress is instead computed from an external
load. The pinned condition in the right end must then be replaced by a force.

TR U S S ( T R U S S )

Pinned 2
1 On the Physics toolbar, click Points and choose Pinned.
2 Select Point 1 only.

Prescribed Displacement 1
1 On the Physics toolbar, click Points and choose Prescribed Displacement.
2 Select Point 2 only.
3 In the Prescribed Displacement settings window, locate the Prescribed Displacement
section.
4 Select the Prescribed in y direction check box.

Point Load 1
1 On the Physics toolbar, click Points and choose Point Load.
2 Select Point 2 only.
3 In the Point Load settings window, locate the Point Load section.
4 Specify the Fp vector as

1520[MPa]*truss.area x
0 y

Add a spring with an arbitrary small stiffness in order to suppress the out-of-plane
singularity of the unstressed wire.

Spring Foundation 1
1 On the Physics toolbar, click Boundaries and choose Spring Foundation.
2 Select Boundary 1 only.
3 In the Spring Foundation settings window, locate the Spring section.
4 Specify the kL vector as

0 x
10 y

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ROOT
On the Home toolbar, click Add Study.

ADD STUDY
1 Go to the Add Study window.
2 Find the Studies subsection. In the tree, select Preset Studies>Prestressed Analysis,
Eigenfrequency.
3 In the Add study window, click Add Study.

STUDY 2

Step 1: Stationary
Switch off the initial stress and double-sided pinned condition, which should not be
part of the second study. In the eigenfrequency step, the stabilizing spring support
must also be removed.

1 In the Model Builder window, under Study 2 click Step 1: Stationary.

2 In the Stationary settings window, locate the Physics and Variables Selection section.
3 Select the Modify physics tree and variables for study step check box.
4 In the Physics and variables selection tree, select
Component 1 (comp1)>Truss (truss)>Linear Elastic Material 1>
Initial Stress and Strain 1 and
Component 1 (comp1)>Truss (truss)>Pinned 1.
5 Click Disable.

Step 2: Eigenfrequency
1 In the Model Builder window, under Study 2 click Step 2: Eigenfrequency.
2 In the Eigenfrequency settings window, locate the Physics and Variables Selection
section.
3 Select the Modify physics tree and variables for study step check box.
4 In the Physics and variables selection tree, select
Component 1 (comp1)>Truss (truss)>Linear Elastic Material 1>
Initial Stress and Strain 1,
Component 1 (comp1)>Truss (truss)>Pinned 1, and
Component 1 (comp1)>Truss (truss)>Spring Foundation 1.
5 Click Disable.
6 On the Home toolbar, click Compute.

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RESULTS

Mode Shape (truss) 1

The eigenfrequencies computed using this more general approach are close to those
computed in the previous step.

To make Study 1 behave as when it was first created, the features added for Study 2 must
be disabled.

STUDY 1

Step 1: Eigenfrequency
1 In the Model Builder window, expand the Study 1 node, then click Step 1:
Eigenfrequency.
2 In the Eigenfrequency settings window, locate the Physics and Variables Selection
section.
3 Select the Modify physics tree and variables for study step check box.
4 In the Physics and variables selection tree, select
Component 1 (comp1)>Truss (truss)>Pinned 2,
Component 1 (comp1)>Truss (truss)>Prescribed Displacement 1,
Component 1 (comp1)>Truss (truss)>Point Load 1,
and Component 1 (comp1)>Truss (truss)>Spring Foundation 1.
5 Click Disable.

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