Educational / Student Teams

Model B747 Wing Vibration Study

ME 318 · Cal Poly · Team of Two · November 2025

Used a spectral analyzer in the lab to compare analytical, simulated, and experimental results for the first natural frequency of the model Boeing 747 aircraft wing.

Model B747 wing used during vibration testing — Model wing and vibration-test setup.

Overview

This project compared three methods of predicting a model B747 wing’s first natural frequency: analytical hand calculations, SolidWorks modal analysis, and experimental testing.

My Role

Completed the analytical hand calculations and performed the vibration analysis in SolidWorks Simulation.

Hand Calculations

Estimated the first natural frequency using analytical vibration methods.

Theoretical natural frequency

39.9 Hz

Hand calculations for the model B747 wing’s first natural frequency — Analytical estimate of the first natural frequency.

SolidWorks Simulation

Built the modal analysis, generated the finite element mesh with a convergence study, and evaluated the first vibration mode.

Simulated natural frequency

32.2 Hz

Finite element mesh used for the model B747 wing — Finite element mesh used in the modal study.

SolidWorks modal-analysis result for the model B747 wing — Simulated first vibration mode.

Experimental Testing

Excited the wing using a shake table and measured its response with accelerometers and a spectral analyzer.

Measured natural frequency

33.8 Hz

Slow-motion footage of the wing vibrating near its first natural frequency.

Comparison

The SolidWorks result closely matched the experimental measurement, while the analytical model predicted a higher frequency because of its simplifying assumptions.

Hand calculations

39.9 Hz

SolidWorks FEA

32.2 Hz

Experimental result

33.8 Hz

Reflection

This project strengthened my understanding of structural vibration and reinforced the importance of validating analytical and computational models with experimental data.