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Free body diagram and X1/F1 of two-mass system

Short answer

Differential equations: M1x1''+B1x1'+B12(x1'-x2')+K12(x1-x2)=f1, M2x2''+B2x2'+K2x2+B12(x2'-x1')+K12(x2-x1)=0. Transfer function X1(s)/F1(s)=[M2s²+(B2+B12)s+K12+K2] / { [M1s²+(B1+B12)s+K12][M2s²+(B2+B12)s+K12+K2] - (B12s+K12)² }.

For the mechanical system shown in fig. 1(b), draw free body diagram, write complete differential equations and identify the transfer function X1(s)/F1(s). [Figure: wall – spring K2 – mass M2 (displacement x2(t), friction B2 with ground); M2 connected to mass M1 (displacement x1(t), friction B1 with ground) through spring K12 in parallel with damper B12; force f1(t) applied to M1]

Displacements x1x_1 (M1M_1, friction B1B_1, force f1f_1) and x2x_2 (M2M_2, friction B2B_2, spring K2K_2 to the wall). K12∥B12K_{12} \parallel B_{12} couples them.

Free body diagrams

 Opposing forces (to the left)        Applied
 M1x1'', B1x1'
 K12(x1-x2), B12(x1'-x2')   ┌────┐
        ◄───────────────────┤ M1 ├────► f1(t)
                            └────┘
 M2x2'', B2x2', K2x2
 K12(x2-x1), B12(x2'-x1')   ┌────┐
        ◄───────────────────┤ M2 │     (none)
                            └────┘

(For each mass, the applied force acts in the positive direction and all reaction forces oppose it.)

Differential equations

M1x¨1+B1x˙1+B12(x˙1−x˙2)+K12(x1−x2)=f1(t)M2x¨2+B2x˙2+K2x2+B12(x˙2−x˙1)+K12(x2−x1)=0\begin{aligned} M_1\ddot x_1 + B_1\dot x_1 + B_{12}(\dot x_1 - \dot x_2) + K_{12}(x_1 - x_2) &= f_1(t) \\ M_2\ddot x_2 + B_2\dot x_2 + K_2x_2 + B_{12}(\dot x_2 - \dot x_1) + K_{12}(x_2 - x_1) &= 0 \end{aligned}

Laplace form

[M1s2+(B1+B12)s+K12]X1−(B12s+K12)X2=F1−(B12s+K12)X1+[M2s2+(B2+B12)s+K12+K2]X2=0\begin{aligned} \left[M_1s^2 + (B_1 + B_{12})s + K_{12}\right]X_1 - (B_{12}s + K_{12})X_2 &= F_1 \\ -(B_{12}s + K_{12})X_1 + \left[M_2s^2 + (B_2 + B_{12})s + K_{12} + K_2\right]X_2 &= 0 \end{aligned}

Transfer function

By Cramer's rule:

X1(s)F1(s)=M2s2+(B2+B12)s+K12+K2Δ\frac{X_1(s)}{F_1(s)} = \frac{M_2s^2 + (B_2 + B_{12})s + K_{12} + K_2}{\Delta} Δ=[M1s2+(B1+B12)s+K12][M2s2+(B2+B12)s+K12+K2]−(B12s+K12)2\Delta = \left[M_1s^2 + (B_1+B_{12})s + K_{12}\right]\left[M_2s^2 + (B_2+B_{12})s + K_{12} + K_2\right] - (B_{12}s + K_{12})^2

Expanded:

Δ=  M1M2s4+[B1M2+B2M1+B12(M1+M2)]s3+[B1B2+B1B12+B2B12+K12(M1+M2)+K2M1]s2+[B1(K12+K2)+B2K12+B12K2]s+K12K2\begin{aligned} \Delta =\; & M_1M_2s^4 + \left[B_1M_2 + B_2M_1 + B_{12}(M_1 + M_2)\right]s^3 \\ & + \left[B_1B_2 + B_1B_{12} + B_2B_{12} + K_{12}(M_1 + M_2) + K_2M_1\right]s^2 \\ & + \left[B_1(K_{12} + K_2) + B_2K_{12} + B_{12}K_2\right]s + K_{12}K_2 \end{aligned}

Check: at s=0s = 0, X1/F1=(K12+K2)/(K12K2)=1/K12+1/K2X_1/F_1 = (K_{12} + K_2)/(K_{12}K_2) = 1/K_{12} + 1/K_2, the compliance of the two springs in series.

✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)

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