Finite-element analysis of coupled thermoviscoelastic structures undergoing sustained periodic vibrations

Abstract

A general method is presented for analyzing the effects of internal heating in geometrically viscoelastic structures due to exposure to sustained periodic vibratory loads. The analysis employs the finiteelement method for both transient displacement and temperature determinations and utilizes complex viscoelastic material property functions. The method is demonstrated by application to a problem involving longitudinal oscillations of a linear viscoelastic rod. General agreement is obtained with the results of Huang and Lee which appear in the literature. The method is applicable to geometrically complex, linear viscoelastic structures of the thermorheologically simple type undergoing small deformations. Existing computer codes that model liner elastic materials can be used, with minor modifications, to obtain linear viscoelastic results.