A new rectangular beam theory

A new theory for beams of rectangular cross-section which includes warping of the cross-sections is presented in the present work. By satisfying the shear-free conditions on the lateral surfaces of the beam a pair of coupled equations of motion are obtained such that no arbitrary shear coefficient is required. It is shown that the uncoupled equation for the transverse displacement is the same as the corresponding equation in Timoshenko beam theory provided that for the Timoshenko equation the shear coefficient is taken to be $\text{5}\text{6}$; this value lies within the range of values, 0·822–0·870, appearing in the literature for the beam of rectangular cross-section. Results for two typical static examples are given for both the new theory and Timoshenko beam theory. These results are compared with the solutions of the comparable problems in the linear theory of elasticity. For the end loaded cantilever beam the new theory predicts the same result for the neutral surface deflection as does the linear theory of elasticity while Timoshenko beam theory underestimates the shear correction term by 20%. For the uniformly loaded and simply supported case both beam theories provide the same overestimate of the central deflection when compared with the theory of elasticity solution.     

Determination of the steady state response of a Timoshenko beam of varying cross-section by use of the spline interpolation technique

The steady state response of an internally damped Timoshenko beam of varying cross-section to a sinusoidally varying point force is determined by use of the spline interpolation technique. For this purpose, with the beam divided into small elements, the response of each element is expressed by a quintic spline function with unknown coefficients. The response is obtained by determining these coefficients so that the spline function satisfies the equation of motion of the beam at each dividing point and also satisfies the boundary conditions at both ends. In this case, the slope due to pure bending of the beam is conveniently adopted as the function essentially expressing the response, from which the transverse deflection, driving point impedance, transfer impedance and force transmissibility of the beam are derived. The method is applied to cantilever beams with linearly, parabolically and exponentially varying rectangular cross-sections; these responses of the beams are calculated numerically and the effects of the varying cross-section on them are studied.     

Dynamic response of thin-walled structures by variable kinematic one-dimensional models

This paper investigates the accuracy capabilities of using variable kinematic modeling in compact and thin-walled beam-like structures with dynamic loadings. Carrera Unified Formulation (CUF) is employed to introduce refined one-dimensional (1D) models with a variable order of expansion for the displacement unknowns over the beam cross-section. Classical Euler–Bernoulli and Timoshenko beam theories are obtained as particular cases of these variable kinematic models while a higher order expansion permits the detection of in-plane cross-section deformation, since it leads to shell-like solutions. Finite element (FE) method is used to provide numerical results and the Newmark method is implemented as a time integration scheme. Some assessments with closed form solutions are discussed and comparisons with shell-type results obtained with commercial FE software are made. Further analyses address both compact and thin-walled cross-sections. In particular, the case of a deformable thin-walled cylinder loaded by time-dependent internal forces is discussed. The results clearly show that finite elements which are formulated in the CUF framework do not introduce additional numerical problems with respect to classical beam theories. Comparisons with elasticity solutions prove that the present 1D CUF model offers an accuracy in analyzing thin-walled structures which is typical of shell or three-dimensional models with a remarkable reduction in the computational cost required.     

Dynamic behaviour of structures in large frequency range by continuous element methods

The continuous element method is presented in the context of the harmonic response of beam assemblies. A general formulation is described from the displacement solution of the elementary problem. A direct computation of elementary dynamic stiffness matrices is presented. In the present formulation, distributed loadings are taken into account. In the case of more complex geometries for which many coupling phenomena occur, an explicit formulation is no more conceivable. In this case, a numerical approach is presented. This approach allows an algorithmic computation of exact dynamic stiffness matrices. This method, called “Numerical Continuous Element”, allows one to consider the coupled vibrations of curved beams and those of helical beams. The validation of this numerical method is achieved by comparisons with the harmonic response of various beams obtained by a finite element approach. Finally, a comparison between eigenfrequencies obtained experimentally and numerically for a straight beam and a helical beam has been made to evaluate the performances of the method.     

Acoustic radiation from a viscoelastic beam impacted by a steel sphere

The acoustic radiation from a viscoelastic beam impacted by a steel sphere has been studied both theoretically and experimentally. Transverse vibrations of free-free viscoelastic beams have been analyzed by employing the modal analysis technique and an approximate method, with the Hertz theory used to evaluate impact forces. The wave equation was solved to determine the acoustic pressure radiated from impacted beams of circular and elliptical cross-sections. The theoretical predictions are compared with the experimental results for the radiation from PMMA beams of circular and rectangular cross-sections. It is shown that for beams of circular cross-sections the theoretical and experimental results are in good agreement and that for beams of rectangular cross-sections the radiation is well predicted by modeling them as beams with elliptical cross-sections.     

Stability of a pretwisted tapered cantilever beam subjected to dissipative and follower forces

Stability of a pretwisted tapered cantilever beam of rectangular cross-section subjected to a follower force at its free end is investigated. The effects of internal and external damping are included in the study. The non-self-adjoint boundary value problem is formulated with the Euler-Bernoulli theory and an associated adjoint boundary value problem is introduced. Approximate values of the critical load are calculated on the basis of a suitable adjoint variational principle for several values of the geometric and material parameters of the beam. The results are shown in graphs.     

Ultrasonic field modeling for immersed components using Gaussian beam superposition

The Gaussian beam (GB) superposition approach can be applied to model ultrasound propagation in complex-structured materials and components. In this article, progress made in extending and applying the Gaussian beam superposition technique to model the beam fields generated by transducers with flat and focused rectangular apertures as well as with circular focused apertures is addressed. The refraction of transducer beam fields through curved surfaces is illustrated by calculation results for beam fields generated in curved components during immersion testing. In particular, the following developments are put forward: (i) the use of individually determined sets of GBs to model transducer beam fields with a number of less than ten beams; (ii) the application of the GB representation of rectangular transducers to focusing probes, as well as to the problem of transmission through interfaces; and (iii) computationally efficient transient modeling by superposition of ‘temporally limited’ GBs.     

In-plane free vibration analysis of combined ring-beam structural systems by wave propagation

This paper presents a systematic, wave propagation approach for the free vibration analysis of networks consisting of slender, straight and curved beam elements and complete rings. The analysis is based on a ray tracing method and a procedure to predict the natural frequencies and mode shapes of complex ring/beam networks is demonstrated. In the wave approach, the elements are coupled using reflection and transmission coefficients, and these are derived for discontinuities encountered in a MEMS rate sensor consisting of a ring supported on an array of folded beams. These are combined, taking into account wave propagation and decay, to provide a concise and efficient method for studying the free vibration problem. A simplification of the analysis that exploits cyclic symmetry in the structure is also presented. The effects of decaying near-field wave components are included in the formulation, ensuring that the solutions are exact. To illustrate the effectiveness of the approach, several numerical examples are presented. The predictions made using the proposed approach are shown to be in excellent agreement with a conventional FE analysis.     

The attenuation of the higher-order cross-section modes in a duct with a thin porous layer

A numerical method for sound propagation of higher-order cross-sectional modes in a duct of arbitrary cross-section and boundary conditions with nonzero, complex acoustic admittance has been considered. This method assumes that the cross-section of the duct is uniform and that the duct is of a considerable length so that the longitudinal modes can be neglected. The problem is reduced to a two-dimensional (2D) finite element (FE) solution, from which a set of cross-sectional eigen-values and eigen-functions are determined. This result is used to obtain the modal frequencies, velocities and the attenuation coefficients. The 2D FE solution is then extended to three-dimensional via the normal mode decomposition technique. The numerical solution is validated against experimental data for sound propagation in a pipe with inner walls partially covered by coarse sand or granulated rubber. The values of the eigen-frequencies calculated from the proposed numerical model are validated against those predicted by the standard analytical solution for both a circular and rectangular pipe with rigid walls. It is shown that the considered numerical method is useful for predicting the sound pressure distribution, attenuation, and eigen-frequencies in a duct with acoustically nonrigid boundary conditions. The purpose of this work is to pave the way for the development of an efficient inverse problem solution for the remote characterization of the acoustic boundary conditions in natural and artificial waveguides.     

Free vibrations of curved box girders

The problem of coupled free vibrations of curved thin-walled girders of non-deformable asymmetric cross-section is examined in this paper. The general governing differential equations are derived for quadruple coupling between the two flexural, tangential and torsional vibrations. An approximate solution for the case of triple coupling between the two flexural and the torsional vibrations is given for a simply supported girder, uniform specific gravity of the material of the box being assumed. Section warping is considered but axial forces, rotary inertia and structural damping are neglected. A parametric study is conducted to investigate the effect of relevant parameters on natural frequencies. Eigenfunctions satisfying the orthogonality condition are given. The solution derived herein for the general case is also shown to cover a variety of special cases of straight and curved girders with doubly symmetric or singly symmetric cross-sections.     

The steady state out-of-plane response of a Timoshenko curved beam with internal damping

The steady state out-of-plane response of a Timoshenko curved beam with internal damping to a sinusoidally varying point force or moment is determined by use of the transfer matrix approach. For this purpose, the equations of out-of-plane vibration of a curved beam are written as a coupled set of the first order differential equations by using the transfer matrix of the beam. Once the matrix has been determined by numerical integration of the equations, the steady state response of the beam is obtained. The method is applied to free-clamped non-uniform beams with circular, elliptical, catenary and parabolical neutral axes driven at the free end; the driving point impedance and force or moment transmissibility are calculated numerically and the effects of the slenderness ratio, varying cross-section and the function expressing the neutral axis on them are studied.     

Mass optimization of non-conservative cantilever beams with internal and external damping

An adjoint variational principle has been developed for a non-conservatively loaded cantilever beam with Kelvin-Voigt internal and linear external damping and is applied to a beam with a linearly distributed tangential load acting along the centerline of the beam. Relative mass optimization for beams of both rectangular and circular crosssections is considered from a graphical standpoint and from the viewpoint of a computer optimization routine with data given and discussed in both instances. In going to a Rosenbrock optimization routine for beams of rectangular cross-section with a minimum tip thickness constraint imposed it was quite clear that mass ratio reductions in the range 14·9 % to 38 % are possible and that the values of internal and external damping appear influential in determining just how much of a mass reduction is possible. Similarly, for beams of circular cross-section a Rosenbrock optimization routine with a minimum tip diameter constraint imposed showed that mass ratio reductions of the order of 27 % are possible.     

Free vibration of a rotating non-uniform beam with arbitrary pretwist, an elastically restrained root and a tip mass

The governing differential equations for the coupled bending-bending vibration of a rotating beam with a tip mass, arbitrary pretwist, an elastically restrained root, and rotating at a constant angular velocity, are derived by using Hamilton's principle. The frequency equation of the system is derived and expressed in terms of the transition matrix of the transformed vector characteristic governing equation. The influence of the tip mass, the rotary inertia of the tip mass, the rotating speed, the geometric parameter of the cross-section of the beam, the setting angle, and the pretwist parameters on the natural frequencies are investigated. The difference between the effects of the setting angle on the natural frequencies of pretwisted and unpretwisted beams is revealed.     

ANALYTICAL AND NUMERICAL STUDY ON SPATIAL FREE VIBRATION OF NON-SYMMETRIC THIN-WALLED CURVED BEAMS

For spatial free vibration of non-symmetric thin-walled circular curved beams, an accurate displacement field is introduced by defining all displacement parameters at the centroidal axis and three total potential energy functionals are consistently derived by degenerating the potential energy for the elastic continuum to that for thin-walled curved beams. The closed-form solutions are newly obtained for in-plane and out-of-plane free vibration analysis of monosymmetric curved beams respectively. Also, two thin-walled curved beam elements are developed using the third and fifth order Hermitian polynomials. In order to illustrate the accuracy and the practical usefulness of the present method, analytical and numerical solutions by this study are presented and compared with previously published results or solutions by ABAQUS' the shell element. Particularly, effects of the thickness curvature as well as the inextensional condition are investigated on free vibration of curved beams with monosymmetric and non-symmetric cross-sections.     

Vibration modelling of helical springs with non-uniform ends

Helical springs constitute an integral part of many mechanical systems. Usually, a helical spring is modelled as a massless, frequency independent stiffness element. For a typical suspension spring, these assumptions are only valid in the quasi-static case or at low frequencies. At higher frequencies, the influence of the internal resonances of the spring grows and thus a detailed model is required. In some cases, such as when the spring is uniform, analytical models can be developed. However, in typical springs, only the central turns are uniform; the ends are often not (for example, having a varying helix angle or cross-section). Thus, obtaining analytical models in this case can be very difficult if at all possible. In this paper, the modelling of such non-uniform springs are considered. The uniform (central) part of helical springs is modelled using the wave and finite element (WFE) method since a helical spring can be regarded as a curved waveguide. The WFE model is obtained by post-processing the finite element (FE) model of a single straight or curved beam element using periodic structure theory. This yields the wave characteristics which can be used to find the dynamic stiffness matrix of the central turns of the spring. As for the non-uniform ends, they are modelled using the standard finite element (FE) method. The dynamic stiffness matrices of the ends and the central turns can be assembled as in standard FE yielding a FE/WFE model whose size is much smaller than a full FE model of the spring. This can be used to predict the stiffness of the spring and the force transmissibility. Numerical examples are presented.     

Analytical formulation and evaluation for free vibration of naturally curved and twisted beams

An analytical study for free vibration of naturally curved and twisted beams with uniform cross-sectional shapes is carried out using spatial curved beam theory based on the Washizu's static model. In the governing equations of motion of the beams, all displacement functions and the generalized warping coordinate are defined at the centroid axis and also the effects of rotary inertia, transverse shear deformations and torsion-related warping are included in the proposed model. Explicit analytical expressions are derived for the vibrating mode shapes of a curved, bending-torsional-shearing coupled beam under clamped-clamped boundary condition with the help of symbolic computing package Mathematica, and a process of searching is used to determine the natural frequencies. Comparisons of the present results with the FEM results using beam elements in ANSYS code show good accuracy in computation and validity of the model. Further, the present model is used for cylindrical helical springs with circular cross-section fixed at both ends, and the results indicate that the natural frequencies agree well with the theoretical and experimental results available.     

Main injector particle production experiment at Fermilab

The main injector particle production (MIPP) experiment at Fermilab uses particle beams of charged pions, kaons, proton and antiproton with beam momenta of 5?C90 GeV/c to measure particle production cross-sections of various nuclei including liquid hydrogen, MINOS target and thin targets of beryllium, carbon, bismuth and uranium. The physics motivation to perform such cross-section measurements is described here. Recent results on the analysis of NuMI target and forward neutron cross-sections are presented here. Preliminary cross-section measurements for 58 GeV/c proton on liquid hydrogen target are also presented. A new method is described to correct for low multiplicity inefficiencies in the trigger using KNO scaling.     

矩形弯曲冷却孔绕流的数值研究

本文以平板矩形孔为对象,利用商业软件NUMECA的Fine/Turbo求解器,并采用Spalart-Allmaras一方程湍流模型,在定常假设的条件下,通过数值模拟得到不同速度比时直方孔和弯曲方孔附近的三维流动结构,探讨冷却孔弯曲对减弱肾形的效果。同时讨论了肾形涡发展演变的拓扑结构。     

Towards a scalable fully-implicit fully-coupled resistive MHD formulation with stabilized FE methods

This paper explores the development of a scalable, nonlinear, fully-implicit stabilized unstructured finite element (FE) capability for 2D incompressible (reduced) resistive MHD. The discussion considers the implementation of a stabilized FE formulation in context of a fully-implicit time integration and direct-to-steady-state solution capability. The nonlinear solver strategy employs Newton–Krylov methods, which are preconditioned using fully-coupled algebraic multilevel preconditioners. These preconditioners are shown to enable a robust, scalable and efficient solution approach for the large-scale sparse linear systems generated by the Newton linearization. Verification results demonstrate the expected order-of-accuracy for the stabilized FE discretization. The approach is tested on a variety of prototype problems, including both low-Lundquist number (e.g., an MHD Faraday conduction pump and a hydromagnetic Rayleigh–Bernard linear stability calculation) and moderately-high Lundquist number (magnetic island coalescence problem) examples. Initial results that explore the scaling of the solution methods are presented on up to 4096 processors for problems with up to 64M unknowns on a CrayXT3/4. Additionally, a large-scale proof-of-capability calculation for 1 billion unknowns for the MHD Faraday pump problem on 24,000 cores is presented.     

Non-linear free vibrations of stepped thickness beams

The non-linear free vibrations of stepped thickness beams are analyzed by assuming sinusoidal responses and using the transfer matrix method. The numerical results for clamped and simply supported, one-stepped thickness beams with rectangular cross-section are presented and the effects of the beam geometry on the non-linear vibration characteristics are discussed. The results are also compared with those obtained by a Galerkin method in which the linear mode function of the beam is used. The use of a Galerkin method seems to considerably overestimate the non-linearity of the stepped thickness beam in certain cases.