Analytical solution of free vibration of FG beam utilizing different types of beam theories: A comparative study

Abstract

In engineering structures, to having the projected structure to serve all the engineering purposes, the theory to be used during the modeling stage is also of great importance. In the present work, an analytical solution of the free vibration of the beam composed of functionally graded materials (FGMs) is presented utilizing different beam theories. The comparison of supposed beam theory for free vibration of functionally graded (FG) beam is examined. For this aim, Euler-Bernoulli, Rayleigh, Shear, and Timoshenko beam theories are employed. The functionally graded material properties are assumed to vary continuously through the thickness direction of the beam with respect to the volume fraction of constituents. The governing equations of free vibration of FG beams are derived in the frameworks of four beam theories. Resulting equations are solved versus simply supported boundary conditions, analytically. To verify the results, comparisons are carried out with the available results. Parametrical studies are performed for discussing the effects of supposed beam theory, the variation of beam characteristics, and FGM properties on the free vibration of beams. In conclusion, it is found that the interaction between FGM properties and the supposed beam theory is of significance in terms of free vibration of the beams and that different beam theories need to be used depending on the characteristics of the beam in question.