Numerical and Experimental Analyses of Free and Forced Vibration of Thin-Walled Beams

Abstract

The flexural–torsional vibration behavior of unrestrained and braced thin-walled beams is investigated by experimental and finite elements approaches. In the experimental part, tests in free and forced vibrations of thin walled beams with arbitrary sections are analyzed. By the help of an instrumental hammer test and a shaker machine, the natural frequencies and the response spectra of the beams are extracted in the range 1–400[Formula: see text]Hz. Beam displacements are measured by some accelerometer transducers. The behavior is also investigated by the finite element method. In mesh process, 3D beams are adopted and an additional DOF is affected to the warping. The model is implemented in a home-made model. The numerical and experimental results are compared to numerical simulations of a commercial code. Test results and numerical simulations of the present model agree well. The model seems to be accurate especially in the presence of higher vibration and coupled modes.