Refined theories may be needed for vibration analysis of structures with overhang

The effect of shear deformation and rotary inertia terms on the free vibration of a beam with overhang was investigated. A recently proposed modified Timoshenko-type equations of motion were used to analyze the vibration of the structure. Two different sets of boundary conditions, with either a fixed or hinged end support, were studied. The results were compared with those obtained for the classical Bernoulli–Euler beam theory. The comparison shows that for a hinged end beam with very long overhang, where the span between the supports is less than one tenth of the overall beam length, the classical theory significantly overestimates the values of the fundamental natural frequencies, even for isotropic shear rigidity. On the other hand, the span effect is reversed for the clamped end beam, for which a relatively significant difference between the classical theory and shear theory results may occur only for a long span. For transversely isotropic beams, the refined theory predictions of the fundamental natural frequencies may be much smaller than those obtained through the rigid shear theory, especially for short span hinged end beams and long span clamped end beams.     

Elasticity solution of clamped-simply supported beams with variable thickness

This paper studies the stress and displacement distributions of continuously varying thickness beams with one end clamped and the other end simply supported under static loads. By introducing the unit pulse functions and Dirac functions, the clamped edge can be made equivalent to the simply supported one by adding the unknown horizontal reactions. According to the governing equations of the plane stress problem, the general expressions of displacements, which satisfy the governing differefitial equations and the boundary conditions attwo ends of the beam, can be deduced. The unknown coefficients in the general expressions are then determined by using Fourier sinusoidal series expansion along the upper and lower boundaries of the beams and using the condition of zero displacements at the clamped edge. The solution obtained has excellent convergence properties. Comparing the numerical results to those obtained from the commercial software ANSYS, excellent accuracy of the present method is demonstrated.     

Homogenized and classical expressions for static bending solutions for functionally graded material Levinson beams

The exact relationship between the bending solutions of functionally graded material (FGM) beams based on the Levinson beam theory and those of the corresponding homogenous beams based on the classical beam theory is presented for the material properties of the FGM beams changing continuously in the thickness direction. The deflection, the rotational angle, the bending moment, and the shear force of FGM Levinson beams (FGMLBs) are given analytically in terms of the deflection of the reference homogenous Euler-Bernoulli beams (HEBBs) with the same loading, geometry, and end supports. Consequently, the solution of the bending of non-homogenous Levinson beams can be simplified to the calculation of transition coefficients, which can be easily determined by variation of the gradient of material properties and the geometry of beams. This is because the classical beam theory solutions of homogenous beams can be easily determined or are available in the textbook of material strength under a variety of boundary conditions. As examples, for different end constraints, particular solutions are given for the FGMLBs under specified loadings to illustrate validity of this approach. These analytical solutions can be used as benchmarks to check numerical results in the investigation of static bending of FGM beams based on higher-order shear deformation theories.     

Explicit frequency equations of free vibration of a nonlocal Timoshenko beam with surface effects

Considerations of nonlocal elasticity and surface effects in micro-and nanoscale beams are both important for the accurate prediction of natural frequency. In this study, the governing equation of a nonlocal Timoshenko beam with surface effects is established by taking into account three types of boundary conditions: hinged–hinged, clamped–clamped and clamped–hinged ends. For a hinged–hinged beam, an exact and explicit natural frequency equation is obtained. However, for clamped–clamped and clamped–hinged beams, the solutions of corresponding frequency equations must be determined numerically due to their transcendental nature. Hence, the Fredholm integral equation approach coupled with a curve fitting method is employed to derive the approximate fundamental frequency equations, which can predict the frequency values with high accuracy. In short,explicit frequency equations of the Timoshenko beam for three types of boundary conditions are proposed to exhibit directly the dependence of the natural frequency on the nonlocal elasticity, surface elasticity, residual surface stress, shear deformation and rotatory inertia, avoiding the complicated numerical computation.     

An asymptotic analysis of composite beams with kinematically corrected end effects

A finite element-based beam analysis for anisotropic beams with arbitrary-shaped cross-sections is developed with the aid of a formal asymptotic expansion method. From the equilibrium equations of the linear three-dimensional (3D) elasticity, a set of the microscopic 2D and macroscopic 1D equations are systematically derived by introducing the virtual work concept. Displacements at each order are split into two parts, such as fundamental and warping solutions. First we seek the warping solutions via the microscopic 2D cross-sectional analyses that will be smeared into the macroscopic 1D beam equations. The variations of fundamental solutions enable us to formulate the macroscopic 1D beam problems. By introducing the orthogonality of asymptotic displacements to six beam fundamental solutions, the end effects of a clamped boundary are kinematically corrected without applying the sophisticated decay analysis method. The boundary conditions obtained herein are applied to composite beams with solid and thin-walled cross-sections in order to demonstrate the efficiency and accuracy of the formal asymptotic method-based beam analysis (FAMBA) presented in this paper. The numerical results are compared to those reported in literature as well as 3D FEM solutions.     

Chaotic vibrations of a post-buckled L-shaped beam with an axial constraint

Analytical results are presented on chaotic vibrations of a post-buckled L-shaped beam with an axial constraint. The L-shaped beam is composed of two beams which are a horizontal beam and a vertical beam. The two beams are firmly connected with a right angle at each end. The beams joint with the right angle is attached to a linear spring. The other ends are firmly clamped for displacement. The L-shaped beam is compressed horizontally via the spring at the beams joint. The L-shaped beam deforms to a post-buckled configuration. Boundary conditions are required with geometrical continuity of displacements and dynamical equilibrium with axial force, bending moment, and share force, respectively. In the analysis, the mode shape function proposed by the senior author is introduced. The coefficients of the mode shape function are fixed to satisfy boundary conditions of displacements and linearized equilibrium conditions of force and moment. Assuming responses of the beam with the sum of the mode shape function, then applying the modified Galerkin procedure to the governing equations, a set of nonlinear ordinary differential equations is obtained in a multiple-degree-of-freedom system. Nonlinear responses of the beam are calculated under periodic lateral acceleration. Nonlinear frequency response curves are computed with the harmonic balance method in a wide range of excitation frequency. Chaotic vibrations are obtained with the numerical integration in a specific frequency region. The chaotic responses are investigated with the Fourier spectra, the Poincaré projections, the maximum Lyapunov exponents and the Lyapunov dimension. Applying the procedure of the proper orthogonal decomposition to the chaotic responses, contribution of vibration modes to the chaotic responses is confirmed. The following results have been found: The chaotic responses are generated with the ultra-subharmonic resonant response of the two-third order corresponding to the lowest mode of vibration. The Lyapunov dimension shows that three modes of vibration contribute to the chaotic vibrations predominantly. The results of proper orthogonal decomposition confirm that the three modes contribute to the chaos, which are the first, second, and third modes of vibration. Moreover, the results of the proper orthogonal decomposition are evaluated with velocity which is equivalent to kinetic energy. Higher modes of vibration show larger contribution to the chaotic responses, even though the first mode of vibration has the largest contribution ratio.     

Solution of free vibration equations of semi-rigid connected Reddy–Bickford beams resting on elastic soil using the differential transform method

The literature regarding the free vibration analysis of Bernoulli–Euler and Timoshenko beams under various supporting conditions is plenty, but the free vibration analysis of Reddy–Bickford beams with variable cross-section on elastic soil with/without axial force effect using the Differential Transform Method (DTM) has not been investigated by any of the studies in open literature so far. In this study, the free vibration analysis of axially loaded and semi-rigid connected Reddy–Bickford beam with variable cross-section on elastic soil is carried out by using DTM. The model has six degrees of freedom at the two ends, one transverse displacement and two rotations, and the end forces are a shear force and two end moments in this study. The governing differential equations of motion of the rectangular beam in free vibration are derived using Hamilton’s principle and considering rotatory inertia. Parameters for the relative stiffness, stiffness ratio and nondimensionalized multiplication factor for the axial compressive force are incorporated into the equations of motion in order to investigate their effects on the natural frequencies. At first, the terms are found directly from the analytical solutions of the differential equations that describe the deformations of the cross-section according to the high-order theory. After the analytical solution, an efficient and easy mathematical technique called DTM is used to solve the governing differential equations of the motion. The calculated natural frequencies of semi-rigid connected Reddy–Bickford beam with variable cross-section on elastic soil using DTM are tabulated in several tables and figures and are compared with the results of the analytical solution where a very good agreement is observed.     

Transverse free vibration of non uniform rotating Timoshenko beams with elastically clamped boundary conditions

In the present paper the Differential Quadrature Method, DQM, and the domain decomposition are used to carry out the free transverse vibration analysis of non-uniform multi-span rotating Timoshenko beams with perfect and not perfect boundary conditions. The cross section could vary in a continuous or discontinuous fashion along the beam length. The material of the beam could be different in each beam span. The influence of elastically clamped boundary conditions at hub end are studied and discussed. The effect of an arbitrary hub radius is considered. The governing differential equations of motion for rotating Timoshenko beams come from the derivation of Hamilton’s principle. The first six natural frequencies of vibration are obtained for many particular situations and for some of them the mode shapes are also available. The examples of applications of the method indicated its effectiveness. The results for particular cases are in excellent agreement with published results and results obtained by means of the finite element method.     

Surface and non-local effects for non-linear analysis of Timoshenko beams

In this paper, we present a non-local non-linear finite element formulation for the Timoshenko beam theory. The proposed formulation also takes into consideration the surface stress effects. Eringen׳s non-local differential model has been used to rewrite the non-local stress resultants in terms of non-local displacements. Geometric non-linearities are taken into account by using the Green–Lagrange strain tensor. A C⁰ beam element with three degrees of freedom has been developed. Numerical solutions are obtained by performing a non-linear analysis for bending and free vibration cases. Simply supported and clamped boundary conditions have been considered in the numerical examples. A parametric study has been performed to understand the effect of non-local parameter and surface stresses on deflection and vibration characteristics of the beam. The solutions are compared with the analytical solutions available in the literature. It has been shown that non-local effect does not exist in the nano-cantilever beam (Euler–Bernoulli beam) subjected to concentrated load at the end. However, there is a significant effect of non-local parameter on deflections for other load cases such as uniformly distributed load and sinusoidally distributed load (Cheng et al. (2015) [10]). In this work it has been shown that for a cantilever beam with concentrated load at free end, there is definitely a dependency on non-local parameter when Timoshenko beam theory is used. Also the effect of local and non-local boundary conditions has been demonstrated in this example. The example has also been worked out for other loading cases such as uniformly distributed force and sinusoidally varying force. The effect of the local or non-local boundary conditions on the end deflection in all these cases has also been brought out.     

Vibration of a variable cross-section beam

Vibration of an isotropic beam which has a variable cross-section is investigated. Governing equation is reduced to an ordinary differential equation in spatial coordinate for a family of cross-section geometries with exponentially varying width. Analytical solutions of the vibration of the beam are obtained for three different types of boundary conditions associated with simply supported, clamped and free ends. Natural frequencies and mode shapes are determined for each set of boundary conditions. Results show that the non-uniformity in the cross-section influences the natural frequencies and the mode shapes. Amplitude of vibrations is increased for widening beams while it is decreased for narrowing beams.     

Explicit solutions for shearing and radial stresses in curved beams

In this paper the formulae for the shearing and radial stresses in curved beams are derived analytically based on the solution for a Volterra integral equation of the second kind. These formulae satisfy both the equilibrium equations and the static boundary conditions on the surfaces of the beams. As some applications, the resulting solutions are used to calculate the shearing and radial stresses in a cantilevered curved beam subjected to a concentrated force at its free end. The numerical results are compared with other existing approximate solutions as well as the corresponding solutions based on the theory of elasticity. The calculations show a better agreement between the present solution and the one based on the theory of elasticity. The resulting formulae can be applied to more general cases of curved beams with arbitrary shapes of cross-sections.     

矩形箱梁力学性能分析的修正计算方法

本文对矩形箱梁翼板设置了不同的剪滞翘曲位移差函数,继而综合考虑剪力滞效应、剪切变形以及剪滞翘曲应力和弯矩自平衡条件等因素,且以能量变分原理为基础建立了矩形箱梁的弹性控制微分方程和自然边界条件,基于此修正了现行薄壁结构分析方法。与传统剪滞理论相比,本文方法深刻反映了矩形箱梁的力学特性。研究表明,(1)由于剪滞翘曲应力和弯矩自平衡条件的引入,矩形箱梁力学性能分解为独立的初等梁理论和剪滞理论体系,且箱梁力学性能为两者的叠加效应;(2)矩形箱梁断面尺寸确定,剪滞效应对其正应力的影响值不变,即剪滞效应的竖向力学行为与箱梁跨径无关;(3)尽管矩形箱梁的梁高对箱形梁剪滞翘曲应力和初等梁理论的应力值皆有一定影响,但其剪力滞系数不变,因此剪力滞效应与梁高无关;(4)剪力滞效应不仅影响箱梁翼板力学性能,而且对其腹板力学行为的影响不可忽视。因而,与传统剪滞理论相比,本文修正法不仅计算精度明显提高,而且更能真实反映矩形箱梁的力学性能。     

Analysis of micro-sized beams for various boundary conditions based on the strain gradient elasticity theory

Bending analysis of micro-sized beams based on the Bernoulli-Euler beam theory is presented within the modified strain gradient elasticity and modified couple stress theories. The governing equations and the related boundary conditions are derived from the variational principles. These equations are solved analytically for deflection, bending, and rotation responses of micro-sized beams. Propped cantilever, both ends clamped, both ends simply supported, and cantilever cases are taken into consideration as boundary conditions. The influence of size effect and additional material parameters on the static response of micro-sized beams in bending is examined. The effect of Poisson’s ratio is also investigated in detail. It is concluded from the results that the bending values obtained by these higher-order elasticity theories have a significant difference with those calculated by the classical elasticity theory.     

On constructing a Green’s function for a semi-infinite beam with boundary damping

The main aim of this paper is to contribute to the construction of Green’s functions for initial boundary value problems for fourth order partial differential equations. In this paper, we consider a transversely vibrating homogeneous semi-infinite beam with classical boundary conditions such as pinned, sliding, clamped or with a non-classical boundary conditions such as dampers. This problem is of important interest in the context of the foundation of exact solutions for semi-infinite beams with boundary damping. The Green’s functions are explicitly given by using the method of Laplace transforms. The analytical results are validated by references and numerical methods. It is shown how the general solution for a semi-infinite beam equation with boundary damping can be constructed by the Green’s function method, and how damping properties can be obtained.     

The composite damping capacity of sandwich cantilever beams

The governing equation of the flexural forced vibration of a cantilever sandwich beam excited by a sinusoidal displacement at the clamped end is developed by utilizing the conventional Hamilton's Principle. The effect of damping of the composite beam is incorporated into the elastic equation of motion by utilizing the Correspondence Principle of the linear viscoelastic theory. Several plots for different values of the composite damping factor are presented. For comparison, an experimental setup was utilized to test different composite beams. The variation of the experimental results with those derived theoretically seem to be in agreement within the frequency range of the first few modes.     

含缺陷的固支梁受冲击载荷作用的实验研究

本文报导了含缺陷的固支梁受圆柱形飞射物撞击的实验过程和实验结果,分析和讨论了输入能量、切口深度、质量比等参数对非完善梁塑性动力响应特性的影响。     

Solutions of the integral equations for shearing stresses in two-material curved beams

In the same way as shearing stresses for curved beams made of one material, the problem of evaluating the shearing stresses of composite curved beams is also reduced to one of solving the integral equations. Solving directly two integral equations can derive the formulae of shearing stresses, which satisfy not only the equilibrium equations but also the static boundary conditions on the boundary surfaces of the beams. The present analysis will be used to investigate the shearing stresses of a cantilevered curved beam made of two materials, which is loaded by a concentrated force at its free end. The comparison between the numerical results of shearing stresses obtained using the equations developed in this paper and a three-dimensional finite element analysis shows excellent agreement.     

功能梯度材料微梁的热弹性阻尼研究

基于Euler-Bernoulli梁理论和单向耦合的热传导理论,研究了功能梯度材料(functionally graded material,FGM)微梁的热弹性阻尼(thermoelastic damping,TED).假设矩形截面微梁的材料性质沿厚度方向按幂函数连续变化,忽略了温度梯度在轴向的变化,建立了单向耦合的变系数一维热传导方程.热力耦合的横向自由振动微分方程由经典梁理论获得.采用分层均匀化方法将变系数的热传导方程简化为一系列在各分层内定义的常系数微分方程,利用上下表面的绝热边界条件和界面处的连续性条件获得了微梁温度场的分层解析解.将温度场代入微梁的运动方程,获得了包含热弹性阻尼的复频率,进而求得了代表热弹性阻尼的逆品质因子.在给定金属-陶瓷功能梯度材料后,通过数值计算结果定量分析了材料梯度指数、频率阶数、几何尺寸以及边界条件对TED的影响.结果表明:(1)若梁长固定不变,梁厚度小于某个数值时,改变陶瓷材料体积分数可以使得TED取得最小值;(2)固有频率阶数对TED的最大值没有影响,但是频率阶数越高对应的临界厚度越小;(3)不同的边界条件对应的TED的最大值相同,但是随着支座约束刚度增大对应的临界厚度减小;(4)TED的最大值和对应的临界厚度随着金属组分的增大而增大.     

Instability of functionally graded micro-beams via micro-structure-dependent beam theory

This paper focuses on the buckling behaviors of a micro-scaled bi-directional functionally graded (FG) beam with a rectangular cross-section, which is now widely used in fabricating components of micro-nano-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS/NEMS) with a wide range of aspect ratios. Based on the modified couple stress theory and the principle of minimum potential energy, the governing equations and boundary conditions for a micro-structure-dependent beam theory are derived. The present beam theory incorporates different kinds of higher-order shear assumptions as well as the two familiar beam theories, namely, the Euler-Bernoulli and Timoshenko beam theories. A numerical solution procedure, based on a generalized differential quadrature method (GDQM), is used to calculate the results of the bi-directional FG beams. The effects of the two exponential FG indexes, the higher-order shear deformations, the length scale parameter, the geometric dimensions, and the different boundary conditions on the critical buckling loads are studied in detail, by assuming that Young’s modulus obeys an exponential distribution function in both length and thickness directions. To reach the desired critical buckling load, the appropriate exponential FG indexes and geometric shape of micro-beams can be designed according to the proposed theory.     

Dynamic stiffness method for free vibration of an axially moving beam with generalized boundary conditions

Axially moving beams are often discussed with several classic boundary conditions, such as simply-supported ends, fixed ends, and free ends. Here, axially moving beams with generalized boundary conditions are discussed for the first time. The beam is supported by torsional springs and vertical springs at both ends. By modifying the stiffness of the springs, generalized boundaries can replace those classical boundaries.Dynamic stiffness matrices are, respectively, established for axially moving Timoshenko beams and Euler-Bernoulli(EB) beams with generalized boundaries. In order to verify the applicability of the EB model, the natural frequencies of the axially moving Timoshenko beam and EB beam are compared. Furthermore, the effects of constrained spring stiffness on the vibration frequencies of the axially moving beam are studied. Interestingly, it can be found that the critical speed of the axially moving beam does not change with the vertical spring stiffness. In addition, both the moving speed and elastic boundaries make the Timoshenko beam theory more needed. The validity of the dynamic stiffness method is demonstrated by using numerical simulation.