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Two-mass system X1/F, X2/F with F-V analogy

Short answer

Laplace transform of equations yields X1/F = [M2s^2+(D2+b1+b2)s+k1+k2] / Δ, X2/F = (b1s+k1) / Δ, Δ = [M1s^2+(D1+b1)s+k1][M2s^2+(D2+b1+b2)s+k1+k2] - (b1s+k1)^2. F-V: masses→L, dampers→R, springs→1/C; coupling b1,k1 share common R–C branch.

The given mechanical system has force f(t) as input and x1 and x2 as displacement outputs. Draw equivalent F-V analogous circuit and determine the transfer functions X1(s)/F(s) and X2(s)/F(s). [Figure: force f(t) applied to mass M1 (displacement x1, friction D1 with ground); M1 connected to mass M2 (displacement x2, friction D2 with ground) through spring k1 in parallel with damper b1; M2 connected to the fixed wall through damper b2 in parallel with spring k2]

Displacements x1x_1 (M1M_1, ground friction D1D_1, force ff) and x2x_2 (M2M_2, ground friction D2D_2). Coupling: k1∥b1k_1 \parallel b_1; M2M_2 to wall: k2∥b2k_2 \parallel b_2.

Differential equations

M1x¨1+D1x˙1+b1(x˙1−x˙2)+k1(x1−x2)=f(t)M2x¨2+D2x˙2+b2x˙2+k2x2+b1(x˙2−x˙1)+k1(x2−x1)=0\begin{aligned} M_1\ddot x_1 + D_1\dot x_1 + b_1(\dot x_1 - \dot x_2) + k_1(x_1 - x_2) &= f(t) \\ M_2\ddot x_2 + D_2\dot x_2 + b_2\dot x_2 + k_2x_2 + b_1(\dot x_2 - \dot x_1) + k_1(x_2 - x_1) &= 0 \end{aligned}

Laplace form:

[M1s2+(D1+b1)s+k1]X1−(b1s+k1)X2=F−(b1s+k1)X1+[M2s2+(D2+b1+b2)s+k1+k2]X2=0\begin{aligned} \left[M_1s^2 + (D_1 + b_1)s + k_1\right]X_1 - (b_1s + k_1)X_2 &= F \\ -(b_1s + k_1)X_1 + \left[M_2s^2 + (D_2 + b_1 + b_2)s + k_1 + k_2\right]X_2 &= 0 \end{aligned}

Transfer functions (Cramer's rule)

Δ=[M1s2+(D1+b1)s+k1][M2s2+(D2+b1+b2)s+k1+k2]−(b1s+k1)2\Delta = \left[M_1s^2 + (D_1+b_1)s + k_1\right]\left[M_2s^2 + (D_2+b_1+b_2)s + k_1 + k_2\right] - (b_1s + k_1)^2 X1(s)F(s)=M2s2+(D2+b1+b2)s+k1+k2Δ,X2(s)F(s)=b1s+k1Δ\frac{X_1(s)}{F(s)} = \frac{M_2s^2 + (D_2 + b_1 + b_2)s + k_1 + k_2}{\Delta}, \qquad \frac{X_2(s)}{F(s)} = \frac{b_1s + k_1}{\Delta}

Expanded:

Δ=  M1M2s4+[M1(D2+b1+b2)+M2(D1+b1)]s3+[D1D2+(D1+D2)b1+D1b2+b1b2+M1(k1+k2)+M2k1]s2+[(D1+D2)k1+D1k2+b1k2+b2k1]s+k1k2\begin{aligned} \Delta =\; & M_1M_2s^4 + \left[M_1(D_2 + b_1 + b_2) + M_2(D_1 + b_1)\right]s^3 \\ & + \left[D_1D_2 + (D_1 + D_2)b_1 + D_1b_2 + b_1b_2 + M_1(k_1 + k_2) + M_2k_1\right]s^2 \\ & + \left[(D_1 + D_2)k_1 + D_1k_2 + b_1k_2 + b_2k_1\right]s + k_1k_2 \end{aligned}

F-V analogous circuit

f→ef\to e, M→LM\to L, D,b→RD,b\to R, k→1/Ck\to 1/C, x˙→i\dot x\to i.

MechanicalElectrical
M1M_1, M2M_2L1L_1, L2L_2
D1D_1, D2D_2RD1R_{D1}, RD2R_{D2}
b1b_1 (coupling)Rb1R_{b1} in common branch
k1k_1 (coupling)C1=1/k1C_1 = 1/k_1 in common branch
b2b_2, k2k_2Rb2R_{b2}, C2=1/k2C_2 = 1/k_2 in mesh 2
   L1   R_D1             L2   R_D2   R_b2
 +-LLLL-/\/\-+---------+-LLLL-/\/\--/\/\-+
 |           |                           |
(~) e      R_b1                       C2=1/k2
 |           |                           |
 |   i1    C1=1/k1          i2           |
 +-----------+---------------------------+
L1di1dt+RD1i1+Rb1(i1−i2)+1C1∫(i1−i2)dt=eL2di2dt+(RD2+Rb2)i2+1C2∫i2dt+Rb1(i2−i1)+1C1∫(i2−i1)dt=0\begin{aligned} L_1\frac{di_1}{dt} + R_{D1}i_1 + R_{b1}(i_1 - i_2) + \frac{1}{C_1}\int(i_1 - i_2)dt &= e \\ L_2\frac{di_2}{dt} + (R_{D2} + R_{b2})i_2 + \frac{1}{C_2}\int i_2dt + R_{b1}(i_2 - i_1) + \frac{1}{C_1}\int(i_2 - i_1)dt &= 0 \end{aligned}

✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)

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