Free vibrations of a mono-coupled periodic system

Vibration problems of periodic systems can be analyzed efficiently by means of the transfer matrix method. The frequency equation for the whole system is shown to be obtained in terms of the eigenvalues, or their natural logarithms, which are often called “propagation constants”, of the transfer matrix for a single periodic subsystem. In case of a mono-coupled system this frequency equation may be solved graphically by using the propagation constant curve, thereby saving a great deal of computational effort. Two types of mono-coupled systems are considered as numerical examples: a spring-mass oscillating system and a continuous Timoshenko beam resting on regularly spaced knife-edge supports. Depending on whether the transfer matrix is derived by an analytical procedure or by the finite element method, the numerical solutions become either exact or approximate.