Resonance characteristics of high-speed trains passing simply supported bridges

This paper investigates the resonant characteristics of three-dimensional bridges when high-speed trains pass them. Multi-span bridges with high piers and simply supported beams were used in the dynamic finite element analysis. The dominated train frequencies proposed in this study can be clearly seen from the finite element result. To avoid resonance, the dominated train frequencies and the bridge natural frequencies should be as different as possible, especially for the first dominated train frequency and the first bridge natural frequency in each direction. If the two first frequencies are similar, the bridge resonance can be serious. This study also indicates that a suitable axial stiffness between two simple beams can reduce vibrations at a near-resonance condition. The axial stiffness of the continuous railway and the friction of the bearing plate should be enough to obtain this axial stiffness.     

Spectral finite element based on an efficient layerwise theory for wave propagation analysis of composite and sandwich beams

In this paper, we present a spectral finite element model (SFEM) using an efficient and accurate layerwise (zigzag) theory, which is applicable for wave propagation analysis of highly inhomogeneous laminated composite and sandwich beams. The theory assumes a layerwise linear variation superimposed with a global third-order variation across the thickness for the axial displacement. The conditions of zero transverse shear stress at the top and bottom and its continuity at the layer interfaces are subsequently enforced to make the number of primary unknowns independent of the number of layers, thereby making the theory as efficient as the first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT). The spectral element developed is validated by comparing the present results with those available in the literature. A comparison of the natural frequencies of simply supported composite and sandwich beams obtained by the present spectral element with the exact two-dimensional elasticity and FSDT solutions reveals that the FSDT yields highly inaccurate results for the inhomogeneous sandwich beams and thick composite beams, whereas the present element based on the zigzag theory agrees very well with the exact elasticity solution for both thick and thin, composite and sandwich beams. A significant deviation in the dispersion relations obtained using the accurate zigzag theory and the FSDT is also observed for composite beams at high frequencies. It is shown that the pure shear rotation mode remains always evanescent, contrary to what has been reported earlier. The SFEM is subsequently used to study wavenumber dispersion, free vibration and wave propagation time history in soft-core sandwich beams with composite faces for the first time in the literature.     

Heavy-element tomography using tunable gamma-ray beams

Gamma-ray beams of which both the band-width and the energy can be tuned were used to perform tomographies. Samples containing heavy elements were rotated and translated in these beams, and the absorption of the beams for each position was measured. Different analysing methods were compared. In contrast to common tomography which uses a continuous spectrum, a technique relying on a monochromatic beam, and a second method which uses as signal the intensity ratio of two monochromatic beams passing through the sample; are presented. When the heavy element under study is present, with the second method the ratio becomes element sensitive if the two energies are such that one is just above and one just below theK-edge of the heavy element under study. An element-sensitive tomography is therefore possible. Different back-projection methods (iterative process, simple back-projection, convolution reconstruction method) were applied on the same data, and their results were compared.     

Pitch change during reverberant decay

The natural frequencies and mode shapes of a number of box beams are calculated by using the finite element displacement method. The structures are considered as assemblages of plates, and in general it is necessary to consider both the in-plane and transverse motion of the plates. A method of representing these two types of motion in the analysis of the vibrations of box beams is presented. A number of box beams of varying sectional parameters are analysed as systems of plates and the results compared with the predictions of Euler and Timoshenko beam theories. The comparisons show that for short beams constructed of thin plates, the new method can successfully represent the localized plate deformations, which cannot be described by beam theory.     

Free vibration of curved sandwich beams by the method of finite elements

The finite element displacement method is used to investigate the flexural vibration characteristics of curved sandwich beams. Three displacement models are used incorporating an element having three, four and five degrees of freedom per node and various parametric studies are made to investigate their effect on the natural frequencies of curved clamped-clamped sandwich beams.     

The vibrations of generally orthotropic beams,a finite element approach

This paper presents two finite element models for the prediction of free vibrational natural frequencies of fixed-free beams of general orthotropy. The discrete models include the transverse shear deformation effect and the rotary inertia effect. Numerical studies show that the convergence rate of the approximations calculated from the finite element analysis is dependent on the fibre orientation.     

Dynamic analysis of very flexible beams

The dynamic analysis of flexible beams with large deformations is difficult and few studies have been performed. In this paper, the vibration analysis of several very flexible beams with large deflections using the finite element approach is studied. The examples were a cantilever beam and rotating flexible robot arms. The results were compared with the results available in the published literature. Several successful checks on the finite element results were performed to ensure the accuracy of the solutions. Due to the geometrical nonlinearity, several static equilibrium shapes can exist for large deflections of a cantilever beam for a given load. Nonlinear dynamic finite element analysis was implemented to investigate the stability of these shapes.     

A Timoshenko beam element

A Timoshenko beam finite element which is based upon the exact differential equations of an infinitesimal element in static equilibrium is presented. Stiffness and consistent mass matrices are derived. Convergence tests are performed for a simply-supported beam and a cantilever. The effect of the shear coefficient on frequencies is discussed and a study is made of the accuracy obtained when analysing frameworks with beams.     

Numerical and experimental analysis of the vibration and band-gap properties of elastic beams with periodically variable cross sections

The band-gap properties of non-uniform periodic beams are analyzed using numerical and experimental methods. The flexural wave equations are established based on the Euler–Bernoulli and Timoshenko beam theories. The beams with periodically variable cross sections are investigated. The transfer matrix method is used to explore the dynamic behaviors of the periodic beams, that is, the natural frequencies of the finite periodic beams with different cross-section ratios between the adjacent sub-cells and the band-gaps of the infinite periodic beams based on the Bloch theory. The validity and accuracy of the band-gaps acquired by the present method are verified by comparing the results with those obtained from the finite element method and the vibration experiments. The effects of the different lengths of adjacent sub-cells on the band-gap properties are then investigated. The research results and conclusions should be useful in the study of vibration control applications.     

A note on the dynamical behaviour of uniform beams having open channel section

Theoretical predictions of the natural frequencies and mode shapes of beams depend on the choice of beam theory (Bernoulli-Euler [1], Timoshenko [1], Vlasov [2, 3], Wagner-Kappus [4]) adopted in the mathematical model. The various theories are developed from differing assumptions. Alternatively, the finite element approach may be used and this, in its way, depends on the mathematical modelling of the structure. Many writers have investigated the dynamic characteristics of coupled lateral bending and twisting in uniform beams of channel section, and the purpose of this paper is to bring much of the relevant data together. Wherever possible, a comparison is made between theoretical predictions and measured natural frequencies.     

An exact solution for the natural frequencies and mode shapes of an immersed elastically restrained wedge beam carrying an eccentric tip mass with mass moment of inertia

In general, the exact solutions for natural frequencies and mode shapes of non-uniform beams are obtainable only for a few types such as wedge beams. However, the exact solution for the natural frequencies and mode shapes of an immersed wedge beam is not obtained yet. This is because, due to the “added mass” of water, the mass density of the immersed part of the beam is different from its emerged part. The objective of this paper is to present some information for this problem. First, the displacement functions for the immersed part and emerged part of the wedge beam are derived. Next, the force (and moment) equilibrium conditions and the deflection compatibility conditions for the two parts are imposed to establish a set of simultaneous equations with eight integration constants as the unknowns. Equating to zero the coefficient determinant one obtains the frequency equation, and solving the last equation one obtains the natural frequencies of the immersed wedge beam. From the last natural frequencies and the above-mentioned simultaneous equations, one may determine all the eight integration constants and, in turn, the corresponding mode shapes. All the analytical solutions are compared with the numerical ones obtained from the finite element method and good agreement is achieved. The formulation of this paper is available for the fully or partially immersed doubly tapered beams with square, rectangular or circular cross-sections. The taper ratio for width and that for depth may also be equal or unequal.     

Free vibration analysis of a uniform multi-span beam carrying multiple spring-mass systems

The literature regarding the free vibration analysis of single-span beams carrying a number of spring-mass systems is plenty, but that of multi-span beams carrying multiple spring-mass systems is fewer. Thus, this paper aims at determining the “exact” solutions for the natural frequencies and mode shapes of a uniform multi-span beam carrying multiple spring-mass systems. Firstly, the coefficient matrices for an intermediate pinned support, an intermediate spring-mass system, left-end support and right-end support of a uniform beam are derived. Next, the numerical assembly technique for the conventional finite element method is used to establish the overall coefficient matrix for the whole vibrating system. Finally, equating the last overall coefficient matrix to zero one determines the natural frequencies of the vibrating system and substituting the corresponding values of integration constants into the related eigenfunctions one determines the associated mode shapes. In this paper, the natural frequencies and associated mode shapes of the vibrating system are obtained directly from the differential equation of motion of the continuous beam and no other assumptions are made, thus, the last solutions are the exact ones. The effects of attached spring-mass systems on the free vibration characteristics of the 1-4-span beams are studied.     

A basic hybrid finite element formulation for mid-frequency analysis of beams connected at an arbitrary angle

When beams are connected at an arbitrary angle and subjected to an external excitation, both longitudinal and bending waves are generated in the system. Since longitudinal wavelengths are considerably longer than bending wavelengths in the mid-frequency region, the number of bending wavelengths in the beams is considerably larger than the number of longitudinal wavelengths. In this paper, plannar beams connected at arbitrary angles are considered. The energy finite element analysis (EFEA) is employed for modelling the bending behavior of the beams and the conventional finite element analysis (FEA) is utilized for modelling the longitudinal vibration in the beams. Thus, a basic hybrid FEA formulation is presented for mid-frequency analysis of systems that contain two types of energy. The bending vibration is associated with the long members in the system and the longitudinal vibration is associated with the short members. The long members are considered to have high modal overlap and to contain several wavelengths within their dimension, and uncertainty effects are present. The short members contain a small number of wavelengths, and exhibit a low modal overlap. Due to the low modal overlap the resonant frequencies are spaced far apart in the frequency domain, therefore the short members exhibit resonant or non-resonant behavior depending on the frequency of the excitation.In this work, the bending and the longitudinal vibration within the same beam member are treated as a long and as a short member, respectively. A hybrid joint formulation is developed between long and short members. Power reflection and transmission coefficients are derived for each joint. The distribution of the energy throughout the system demonstrates a strong dependency on the power transfer coefficients. Several systems are analyzed by the hybrid FEA and by analytical solutions, and good correlation between them is observed.     

Linear and nonlinear vibrations analysis of viscoelastic sandwich beams

In this paper, numerical models are proposed for linear and nonlinear vibrations analyses of viscoelastic sandwich beams with various viscoelastic frequency dependent laws using the finite element based solution. Real and various complex eigenmodes approaches are investigated as Galerkin bases. Based on harmonic balance method, simplified and general approaches are developed for nonlinear vibration analysis. Analytical frequency-amplitude and phase-amplitude relationships are elaborated based on the numerically computed complex eigenmodes. The equivalent loss factors and frequencies as well as the forced harmonic response and phase curves are performed for sandwich beams with various boundary conditions and frequency dependent viscoelastic laws.     

Detection of object resonances by vibro-acoustography and numerical vibrational mode identification

Chalk sphere and cylinder resonance frequencies related to compressional and bending modes were detected in water, using vibro-acoustography, a relatively new imaging technique. The variable (radiation) force of low-frequency excitation, produced by intersecting two primary focused ultrasound waves with slightly different frequencies, forces the object to vibrate. The low-frequency acoustic emission field, resulting from object vibration, was detected by a hydrophone. By fixing the object at the focus of the ultrasound beam and sweeping the frequency of one of the primary beams within a chosen bandwidth, it was possible to detect some of the resonance frequencies (those related to compressional and bending modes) via variations in acoustic emission amplitude. Experimental results showed excellent agreement with finite element calculations. This method can be used to characterize the presence of heterogeneities in various media, in the field of materials science or biology.     

Determination of object resonances by vibro-acoustography and their associated modes

Vibro-acoustography technique known by its noncontact excitation was used to detect resonance frequencies of objects in water. Two intersecting ultrasound beams generated by a 40 mm-diameter annular array transducer, focused at 35 mm and driven at f1=2.2 MHz and f2=2.22 MHz respectively, were targeted inside the object under test to produce a radiation force beating at the difference frequency f2-f1. This low frequency radiation force was used to excite the resonance vibration modes of the object by sweeping the frequency f2 between 2.22 and 2.275 MHz. The amplitude of the acoustic emission produced by the vibrations of the object was detected by a low frequency hydrophone (BW=60 kHz). By this approach, it was possible to detect resonance frequencies through amplitude variations of the measured acoustic emission. Experiments were conducted in a water tank for objects of different shapes and sizes. With a chalk sphere (15 mm-diameter) two resonance frequencies were detected at 45.75 and 68.75 kHz, and with a cylinder (10.38 mm-diameter and 32.20 mm-length) four principal resonance frequencies were identified in the 60 kHz-bandwidth of the hydrophone. It was shown with finite element calculations performed with Ansys, in which both solid and fluid parts were modelled, that the measured resonance frequencies corresponded to compressional or dilatation vibration modes of the object. It was verified that shear waves generated by torsional vibration modes were not propagated in water, as it is well known. The use of this technique to characterize heterogeneities in different media seems to be relatively more advantageous to other ultrasonic methods.     

Vibration analysis of a new curved beam element

The common practice in developing a locking-free curved beam element is to ensure that its interpolation functions of displacement explicitly satisfy the inextensible bending mode condition for the membrane locking-free instead of the rigid body modes. In this paper, we study the impact of this practice on the dynamic characteristics of a finite element by conducting vibration analysis using our newly developed three-node locking-free curved beam element. In this case, the inextensible bending mode condition is satisfied explicitly, while the rigid body modes are satisfied implicitly to 4th-order accuracy. Numerical and experimental examples show that with the newly developed curved beam element, developed by using the implicit representation of a rigid body mode condition, it is possible to recover the rigid body modes of curved beams with low and medium slenderness ratios. This is even true for cases involving a half-circular element and the vibration of the curved beam is predicted with high accuracy.     

基于光学相干测振系统的微悬臂梁缺陷检测

提出了基于光学相干测振(optical coherence vibrometer,OCV)系统的微悬臂梁缺陷检测方法.自搭建的OCV系统最大振动位移量程、最大振动频率分别为2.574 mm和138.5 kHz,应用该系统对含缺陷微悬臂梁-附加质量块耦合结构进行振动测量获得其固有频率,并利用附加质量块对固有频率的影响特性...     

Wave reflection and transmission due to defects in infinite structural waveguides at high frequencies

In waveguide structures, waves may be partially reflected by local non-uniformities such as cracks and other defects. The reflection and transmission characteristics associated with the presence of a discontinuity may be used, in principle, to give some indication of both the location and size of the defect. A combined spectral element and finite element (SE/FE) method has been used previously to investigate the effects of local non-uniformities at relatively low frequencies. However, for analysis at higher frequencies, where complex deformation of the waveguide occurs, it is necessary to extend this approach. Such high frequency analysis is necessary if small defects are to be located within the waveguide cross-section. In order to investigate wave propagation at higher frequencies, a combined spectral super element and finite element (SSE/FE) method is presented. This method allows the transmission, reflection and wave conversion at discontinuities to be determined for complex waveguides. As an example of the use of this method, wave reflection and transmission in rails are estimated at frequencies between 20 and 40 kHz for various notional sawcut-like defects of progressively increasing size. This shows the feasibility of the approach for realistic waveguides. However, from these simulations it is shown that defects have to be quite large before they can be detected using a single transducer position on the rail cross-section using train-induced vibration.     

Non-linear free torsional vibrations of thin-walled beams with bisymmetric cross-section

A finite element method for studying non-linear free torsional vibrations of thin-walled beams with bisymmetric open cross-section is presented. The non-linearity of the problem arises from axial loads generated at moderately large amplitude torsional vibrations due to immovability of end supports. The derivation of the fundamental differential equation of the problem is based on the classical assumption of a thin-walled beam with a non-deformable cross-section. The non-linear eigenvalue problem is solved iteratively by series of linear eigenvalue problems until the required accuracy is obtained. Non-linear frequencies, fundamental mode shapes and axial loads computed for various amplitude of torsional vibrations of thin-walled I beams are included.