DynamAssist

Welcome to the DynamAssist web site

DynamAssist is a software toolbox developed for engineers working in the field of structural dynamics and vibration engineering. The software is available as a Mathcad electronic handbook. Version 9.0 is now available.

Also available is 'Modal Maths' - a collection of useful formulas for structural dynamics (download pdf file here)

DynamAssist has been developed by Ian Ward and is provided free of charge. If you would like to install the handbook, download the relevant DynamAssist zip file from the links below:

DynamAssist Version 9.0 for Mathcad Prime 7 and upwards – Download zip file (58Mb)

DynamAssist Version 9.0 for Mathcad 14 & 15 – Download zip file (43Mb)

DynamAssist Version 5.1 for Mathcad 13 – Download zip file (27Mb)

DynamAssist Version 5.1 for Mathcad 11 – Download zip file (45Mb)

Once the relevant zip file has been downloaded, extract the files to the ‘handbook’ directory that comes with your Mathcad installation. DynamAssist can then be accessed from Mathcad by clicking Help> E-books> DynamAssist or by selecting DynamAssist from the Resources toolbar.

Please note that Mathcad prime does not currently support handbooks; the list of available worksheets is therefore provided in 'About.mcdx'.

Suggestions for corrections/modifications/enhancements to DynamAssist are always welcome - please send emails to IanWard@DynamAssist.com. For citations, please use text similar to; 'Ward, I., 2014, DynamAssist - a structural dynamics handbook for Mathcad, Version 9.0, www.dynamassist.com.'

DynamAssist contents:

Natural frequencies and mode shapes for beams, rectangular plates and circular plates

Natural frequency equations - including empirical equations for different types of structure

Damping equations and typical damping values for different types of construction

Derivation of damping properties from a time history decay

Calculation of equivalent foundation properties

Tuned Mass Damper (TMD) design - to study the effective damping provided by a TMD when added to a structure

General 3D beam analysis program for calculating: static response (deflections/forces/moments), natural frequencies and mode shapes, steady-state response, transient response and response spectrum response. Program features include: shear flexibility in the beams, support stiffness, constraint equations, added mass at nodes, point and distributed loads, element temperatures, element pre-load, modal damping and element damping

Section property calculator for general shapes (including tables of section properties for standard sections)

Demonstration of dynamic amplification, response decay and build-up of resonance

Transient response of an elastic/inelastic single degree of freedom (SDOF) system, including response charts

Steady-state response of an elastic single degree of freedom (SDOF) system

Base excitation of a 2DOF system

Tripartite graph plotting (new for Version 9)

Response of a system consisting of an arbitrary number of elastic/inelastic single degree of freedom (SDOF) components. The system can be subjected to a combination of external loads, base acceleration and impact velocities (updated for Version 9)

Sliding block analysis (new for Version 9)

Dynamic response of footbridges due to pedestrian loading (updated for Version 9)

Illustration of jumping load harmonics

Design of floors for vibration: walking loads

Design of floors for vibration: rhythmic loading (natural frequency or steady state method)

Dynamic response of road/rail bridges due to vehicle loading

Dynamic response of stadia due to crowd loading

Calculation of wind loads on buildings and masts/towers

Wind speed conversion

Criteria for wind-induced building motion

Extreme wind speed assessment

Vortex shedding calculation (Mathcad Prime version only)

Calculation of blast pressures due to explosions

Time history analysis (power/linear/third-octave spectra)

Time history spectrograms

Example earthquake accelerograms (updated for Version 9)

Generation of secondary response spectra (elastic and inelastic)

Relationship between displacement/velocity/acceleration response spectra (new for Version 9)

Secondary response spectra from FE model data

Seismic response spectrum example

Generation of spectrum compatible time histories

Time history filtering (including Wb filter)

Rainflow counting

Fatigue assessment

Library of reference data

Full list of references

Mathcad is a desktop software package for performing engineering and scientific calculations. It can be used to replace traditional engineering calculations normally performed by hand on calculation sheets. The advantage of Mathcad in this situation is the ability to update/modify the calculations very quickly, and units are also handled automatically. The calculations can be laid out as they would on a calculation sheet with comments, diagrams and references to input data all included in one electronic worksheet.

Mathcad can also be used to perform more complex calculations and has numerous built-in functions for dealing with vectors/matrices, calculus, differential equations, signal processing and eigenvalue extraction. The software is developed and sold by the Parametric Technology Corporation (PTC). More information can be found on the Mathcad web site (www.mathcad.com).

Ian Ward has over 35 years experience of providing structural analysis consultancy services on a wide variety of projects. He has developed particular expertise in the use of computer-based analysis techniques to assess the response of structures subjected to dynamic loads (such as wind, blast, pedestrian, vehicle or seismic loading).

Ian is a Member of the Institute of Physics and a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. He is a Technical Director in the Advanced Technology Group within AtkinsRealis (www.atkinsglobal.com).