Free vibrations of a multi-span Timoshenko beam carrying multiple spring-mass systems

Abstract

Structural elements supporting motors or engines are frequently seen in technological applications. The operation of a machine may introduce additional dynamic stresses on the beam. It is important, then, to know the natural frequencies of the coupled beam-mass system, in order to obtain a proper design of the structural elements. The literature regarding the free vibration analysis of Bernoulli-Euler single-span beams carrying a number of spring-mass system and Bernoulli-Euler multi-span beams carrying multiple spring-mass systems are plenty, but on Timoshenko multi-span beams carrying multiple spring-mass systems is fewer. This paper aims at determining the natural frequencies and mode shapes of a Timoshenko multi-span beam. The model allows to analyse the influence of the shear effect and spring-mass systems on the dynamic behaviour of the beams by using Timoshenko Beam Theory (TBT). The effects of attached spring-mass systems on the free vibration characteristics of the 1–4 span beams are studied. The natural frequencies of Timoshenko multi-span beam calculated by using secant method for non-trivial solution are compared with the natural frequencies of multi-span beam calculated by using Bernoulli-Euler Beam Theory (EBT) in literature; the mode shapes are presented in graphs.