Spectral element modeling and analysis of an axially moving thermoelastic beam-plate

Abstract

Axially moving thin-walled structures exposed to sudden external thermal loads may experience severe vibrations. For accurate predictions of the thermally induced vibrations, this paper develops a spectral element model for the axially moving beam-plates subjected to sudden external thermal loads. The spectral element model is formulated from the frequency-dependent dynamic shape functions which satisfy the governing equations in the frequency domain. Thus, when compared with the conventional finite element model in which simple polynomials are used as the shape functions, the spectral element model provides exact solutions by treating a whole uniform structure member as a single finite element, regardless of its length. Numerical studies are conducted to evaluate the present spectral element model and also to investigate the dynamic characteristics of an axially moving beam-plate subjected to a sudden thermal load on its upper surface.