The second frequency spectrum of Timoshenko beams

A second spectrum of frequencies was reported in early analytical work on the vibrations of Timoshenko beams. However, in subsequent finite element modelling this phenomenon was either ignored or not definitively classified and recorded. In fact, from a recent finite element analysis with a high precision element it was even concluded that there is no separate second spectrum of frequencies except for the special case of hinged-hinged beams and it was asserted that previous investigators had misinterpreted some frequencies thus introducing the notion of second frequencies. In this paper, a simple linear beam element with independent displacement fields and reduced integration to eliminate shear locking is used and enables one to detect the second spectrum accurately. Guidelines are provided which help to identify and classify the frequencies into two separate spectra.