On the reflected wave superposition method for a travelling string with mixed boundary supports

Abstract

An analytical vibration response in the time domain for an axially translating and laterally vibrating string with mixed boundary conditions is considered in this paper. The domain of the string is a constant, dependent upon the general initial conditions. The translating tensioned strings possess different types of mixed boundary conditions, such as fixed_dashpot, fixed_spring-dashpot, fixed_mass-spring-dashpot. An analytical solution using a reflected wave superposition method is presented for a finite translating string. Firstly, the cycle of boundary reflection for strings is provided, which is dependent upon the string length. Each cycle is divided into three time intervals according to the travelling speed and direction of the string. Applying D’Alembert’s principle and the reflection properties, expressions for the reflected waves under three different non-classical boundary conditions are derived. Then, the vibrational response of the axially translating string is solved for three time intervals by using a reflected wave superposition method. The accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method are confirmed numerically by comparison to simulations produced using a Newmark-β method solution. The energy expressions for a travelling string with a fixed_dashpot boundary condition is obtained and the time domain curves for the total energy and the change of energy at the boundaries are given.