Free vibration analysis of arches using curved beam elements

The natural frequencies and mode shapes for the radial (in‐plane) bending vibrations of the uniform circular arches were investigated by means of the finite arch (curved beam) elements. Instead of the complicated explicit shape functions of the arch element given by the existing literature, the simple implicit shape functions associated with the tangential, radial (or normal) and rotational displacements of the arch element were derived and presented in matrix form. Based on the relationship between the nodal forces and the nodal displacements of a two‐node six‐degree‐of‐freedom arch element, the elemental stiffness matrix was derived, and based on the equation of kinetic energy and the implicit shape functions of an arch element the elemental consistent mass matrix with rotary inertia effect considered was obtained. Assembly of the foregoing elemental property matrices yields the overall stiffness and mass matrices of the complete curved beam. The standard techniques were used to determine the natural frequencies and mode shapes for the curved beam with various boundary conditions and subtended angles. In addition to the typical circular arches with constant curvatures, a hybrid beam constructed by using an arch segment connected with a straight beam segment at each of its two ends was also studied. For simplicity, a lumped mass model for the arch element was also presented. All numerical results were compared with the existing literature or those obtained from the finite element method based on the conventional straight beam element and good agreements were achieved. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dynamic stiffness vibration analysis using a high‐order beam model

This work presents the derivation of the exact dynamic stiffness matrix for a high‐order beam element. The terms are found directly from the solutions of the differential equations that describe the deformations of the cross‐section according to the high‐order theory, which include cubic variation of the axial displacements over the cross‐section of the beam. The model has six degrees of freedom at the two ends, one transverse displacement and two rotations, and the end forces are a shear force and two end moments. Using the dynamic stiffness matrix exact vibration frequencies for beams with various combinations of boundary conditions are tabulated and compared with results from the Bernoulli–Euler and Timoshenko beam models. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A general finite element for beams or beam-columns with or without an elastic foundation

A general finite element is derived for beams or beam-columns with or without a continuous Winkler type elastic foundation. The need to discretize members into shorter elements for convergence towards an ‘exact’ solution is eliminated by employing in the derivation of the element exact shape functions obtained from the equation of the elastic line. Inter-nodal values of deflections, bending moments and shear forces are obtained using the exact shape functions and trigonometric series. The effect of heavy compressive or tensile axial forces on bending stiffness is treated as a linear problem by considering the axial force as a constant parameter affecting the stiffness. FORTRAN subroutines to compute the stiffness matrix, equivalent nodal forces, deflected shape, bending moments and shear forces are provided and verified by an example.     

AN EFFICIENT CURVED BEAM FINITE ELEMENT

The plane two-node curved beam finite element with six degrees of freedom is considered. Knowing the set of 18 exact shape functions their approximation is derived using the expansion of the trigonometric functions in the power series. Unlike the ones commonly used in the FEM analysis the functions suggested by the authors have the coefficients dependent on the geometrical and physical properties of the element. From the strain energy formula the stiffness matrix of the element is determined. It is very simple and can be split into components responsible for bending, shear and axial forces influences on the displacements. The proposed element is totally free of the shear and membrane locking effects. It can be referred to the shear-flexible (parameter d) and compressible (parameter e) systems. Neglecting d or e yields the finite elements in all necessary combinations, i.e. curved Euler–Bernoulli beam or curved Timoshenko beam with or without the membrane effect. Applying the elaborated element in the calculations a very good convergence to the analytical results can be obtained even with a very coarse mesh without the commonly adopted corrections as reduced or selective integration or introduction of the stabilization matrices, additional constraints, etc., for the small depth–length ratio. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Spatial stability and free vibration of shear flexible thin-walled elastic beams. I: Analytical approach

An improved formulation for spatial stability and free vibration analysis of thin-walled elastic beams is presented by applying Hellinger–Reissner principle and introducing Vlasov's assumption. It includes shear deformation effects due to flexural shear and restrained warping stress, rotary inertia effects and bendirsg–torsional coupling effects due to unsymmetric cross sections. Closed-form solutions for determining flexural–torsional buckling loads and natural frequencies of unsymmetric simply supported beam-columns subjected to eccentric axial force are newiy derived and also, the tangent stiffness matrix and stability functions for symmetric thin-walled beam elements subjected to axial force are presented. In a companion paper,²⁶ these analytic solutions are compared with the finite element solutions according to the increase of shear deformation effects.     

Vibrations of skewed cantilevered triangular,trapezoidal and parallelogram Mindlin plates with considering corner stress singularities

Based on the Mindlin shear deformation plate theory, a method is presented for determining natural frequencies of skewed cantilevered triangular, trapezoidal and parallelogram plates using the Ritz method, considering the effects of stress singularities at the clamped re‐entrant corner. The admissible displacement functions include polynomials and corner functions. The admissible polynomials form a mathematically complete set and guarantee the solution convergent to the exact frequencies when sufficient terms are used. The corner functions properly account for the singularities of moments and shear forces at the re‐entrant corner and accelerate the convergence of the solution. Detailed convergence studies are carried out for plates of various shapes to elucidate the positive effects of corner functions on the accuracy of the solution. The results obtained herein are compared with those obtained by other investigators to demonstrate the validity and accuracy of the solution. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A deep rod finite element for structural dynamics and wave propagation problems

In this paper, a new element for higher order rod (normally referred to as Minlin–Herrman rod) is formulated by introducing lateral contraction effects. The cross‐section is assumed to be rectangular. The stiffness and mass matrices are obtained by using interpolating functions that are exact solution to the governing static equation. The studies using this element for free vibration analysis show that lateral contractional inertia has a pronounced effect on the natural frequencies of the rod systems. The formulated element is not only able to capture the two propagating spectrums but also the dispersive effects in a deep rod. The results obtained from this element is compared with the previously formulated exact higher order spectral rod element. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Exact solutions of axial vibration problems of elastic bars

While exact solutions for linear static analysis of most frame structures can be obtained by the finite element method, it is very difficult to obtain exact solutions for free vibration and harmonic analyses for non‐trivial cases. This paper presents a study on new finite element formulation and algorithms for exact solutions of undamped axial vibration problems of elastic bars. Appropriate shape functions are constructed by using the homogeneous governing equations, and based on the new shape functions, a novel element is formulated. An iterative procedure is proposed for determining both the exact natural frequency values and the corresponding vibration mode shapes. Exact solutions can also be obtained for undamped harmonic response analyses by using the new element, as its stiffness and mass matrices are exact for a specified frequency. Illustrative examples are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed element and algorithm. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Frequency analysis of thick orthotropic plates on elastic foundation using a high precision triangular plate bending element

A high precision triangular thick orthotropic plate bending element on an elastic foundation is developed for the free vibration analysis of thick plates on elastic foundation. The element has three nodes with twelve degrees-of-freedom per node, and takes into account the shear deformation and rotatory inertia. The accuracy of the element is established by comparison of the natural frequencies of certain thick and thin plates, determined from a consistent mass matrix formulation, with available results.     

计及二阶效应的梁杆系统动力响应分析方法研究

基于动力刚度法和有限元理论提出了一种考虑二阶效应计算梁杆动力响应的新方法。通过求解轴向力作用下Bernoulli-Euler 梁横向和轴向挠度自由振动微分方程,利用位移边界条件反解出待定系数,得到了动态精确形函数;使用经典有限元方法推导了考虑截面自身旋转惯量的质量阵和考虑二阶效应的刚度阵,该质量阵和刚度阵各元素均为轴力和圆频率的超越函数;建立了杆系结构瞬态动力学分析的动力平衡方程,给出了稳定和高效的求解方案。对几个典型的算例进行了计算分析,并与通用软件ANSYS 的计算结果进行了比较。计算结果表明:该分析梁杆系统动力响应的新方法具有较高的计算精度和效率,特别是能够准确地计入轴力对于梁杆动力响应的影响。     

液化场地中Timoshenko桩自由振动与屈曲的精确数值解

基于单桩的Timoshenko梁模型和桩-土相互作用的Winkler模型,建立考虑轴力效应的具有分布参数的Timoshenko梁模型微分控制方程,确定对应的齐次方程的通解,并以此作为有限单元的基函数。推导得精确形函数矩阵,建立分布参数Timoshenko梁的精确有限单元,根据拉格朗日方程得到有限元离散方程和单元刚度矩阵、几何刚度矩阵和一致质量矩阵。应用建立的精确Timoshenko梁单元于分层液化土中单桩-土-结构系统的自由振动与屈曲模态分析,通过与对应解析解以及常规有限元解的对比,表明精确Timoshenko桩基础单元的可靠性与较常规有限元法的优势。     

Evaluation of the effect of preload force on resonance frequencies for a traveling wave ultrasonic motor

In this paper, a novel method of numerical computation of the natural frequencies, depending on the most important running parameters for an ultrasonic motor, is described. The analyzed configuration by the Space Division of Alenia Spazio, Rome, within an Italian Space Agency (ASI) development program, is the flexural traveling wave one. The dynamic equations for the stator and the rotors of the ultrasonic motor are assumed into a differential system, whose equations are coupled by terms that represent interface generalized forces. In order to calculate natural frequencies of the motor-coupled terms of the equations are worked out with respect to the variables of the degrees of freedom. Hence, the mass, damping, and stiffness matrix for the whole system are obtained, then resonance frequencies, depending on the most important running parameters such as axial preload of the motor, are calculated. The results are compared with numerical ones, obtained by a finite element modeling (FEM) model, showing a good agreement.     

Coupled bending–torsional dynamic stiffness matrix for axially loaded beam elements

Analytical expressions for the coupled bending–torsional dynamic stiffness matrix elements of an axially loaded uniform beam element are derived in an exact sense by solving the governing differential equations of motion of the beam. The influence of axial force on the coupled bending–torsional frequencies of a cantilever and hinged–hinged beam of thin-walled section is demonstrated by numerical results. Application of the developed theory includes coupled bending–torsional frequency and mode calculations of helicopter, turbine and propeller blades, plane and space frames, and grillages consisting of axially loaded beam elements with non-coincident mass centre and shear centre.     

Vibrational characteristics of carbon nanotubes as nanomechanical resonators

Using eigenvalue analysis of mass and stiffness matrices directly computed from atomistic simulations, natural frequencies and mode shapes of various carbon nanotubes are studied. The stiffness matrix was developed from the Tersoff-Brenner potential for carbon-carbon interactions. The computed frequencies of the radial breathing modes of a variety of armchair (n, n) nanotubes agree well with results obtained by others using different techniques. In addition, the study reveals diverse mode shapes such as accordion-like axial modes, lateral bending modes, torsional modes, axial shear modes, and radial breathing modes for a variety of single-wall, multi-wall, and bamboo-type carbon nanotubes. The effects of different constraints on the carbon nanotube ends on the computed frequencies and mode shapes have been investigated for possible applications in vibration sensors or electromechanical resonators.     

A new approach for displacement functions of a curved Timoshenko beam element in motions normal to its initial plane

In existing literature, either analytical methods or numerical methods, the formulations for free vibration analysis of circularly curved beams normal to its initial plane are somewhat complicated, particularly if the effects of both shear deformation (SD) and rotary inertia (RI) are considered. It is hoped that the simple approach presented in this paper may improve the above‐mentioned drawback of the existing techniques. First, the three functions for axial (or normal to plane) displacement and rotational angles about radial and circumferential (or tangential) axes of a curved beam element were assumed. Since each function consists of six integration constants, one has 18 unknown constants for the three assumed displacement functions. Next, from the last three displacement functions, the three force–displacement differential equations and the three static equilibrium equations for the arc element, one obtained three polynomial expressions. Equating to zero the coefficients of the terms in each of the last three expressions, respectively, one obtained 17 simultaneous equations as functions of the 18 unknown constants. Excluding the five dependent ones among the last 17 equations, one obtained 12 independent simultaneous equations. Solving the last 12 independent equations, one obtained a unique solution in terms of six unknown constants. Finally, imposing the six boundary conditions at the two ends of an arc element, one determined the last six unknown constants and completely defined the three displacement functions. By means of the last displacement functions, one may calculate the shape functions, stiffness matrix, mass matrix and external loading vector for each arc element and then perform the free and forced vibration analyses of the entire curved beam. Good agreement between the results of this paper and those of the existing literature confirms the reliability of the presented theory. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

In‐plane vibrations of shear deformable curved beams

This paper presents the exact dynamic stiffness matrix for a circular beam with a uniform cross‐section. The stiffness matrix is frequency dependent, and the natural frequencies are those that cause the matrix to become singular. Using this matrix the exact natural frequencies of circular beams with various boundary conditions are calculated and compared with available results in the literature. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The effect of boundary conditions on the dynamic stability of orthotropic cylinders using a modified exact analysis

A calculation of overall dynamic response of thin orthotropic cylindrical shells is presented. Due to the obvious importance of the effects of transverse shear deformation and rotary inertia, these terms are included in the analysis. The exact method is modified to predict the dynamic behavior of an orthotropic circular cylindrical shell. The modal forms are assumed to have the axial dependence in the form of a simple Fourier series. By using the present modified exact analysis various aspects such as influence of boundary conditions, changes in shell geometrical parameters, changes in the directions of orthotropy, etc., on the frequencies, mode shapes and modal forces are studied. Analytical results are shown to be in good agreement with some available experimental and theoretical results.     

复合材料变截面旋转薄壁悬臂梁自由振动分析

基于拉格朗日方程推导出复合材料封闭变截面旋转薄壁梁的自由振动方程。与基于哈密顿原理的动力学建模方法相比,该文所采用的方法更为简洁。此外,在薄壁梁的结构模型中还考虑除横向剪切外的扭转、拉伸和弯曲引起的翘曲,具有考虑翘曲因素多的特点。给出了两种刚度配置下的变矩形截面旋转悬臂直梁的自由振动方程简化形式及其相应的迦辽金法求解的固有频率。基于大型通用有限元软件ANSYS,计算了薄壁变截面旋转悬臂梁的固有频率,并且与迦辽金法的求解结果进行了对比。分析了复合材料的弹性耦合、铺层角度、截面变化和旋转速度对薄壁梁的自由振动的影响。     

Initial buckling of curved panels of generally layered composite materials

An initial buckling analysis for cylindrically curved panels made of generally layered composite materials is presented. Four kinds of boundary conditions and the combination of axial compression and shear forces are considered. Two coupled, fourth-order partial differential equations are solved by the use of multiple Fourier series, in which more exact constants within the characteristic beam functions are introduced so that better orthogonality of the series and, therefore, more exact buckling loads are obtained. The influence of curvature, fibre angles, stacking sequence and panel aspect ratios is investigated. An interesting relationship between the critical axial load and shear forces is found for mid-plane symmetric panels. Comparison of present work with experimental results shows fairly good agreement.     

An eight‐node hybrid‐stress solid‐shell element for geometric non‐linear analysis of elastic shells

This paper presents eight‐node solid‐shell elements for geometric non‐linear analysis of elastic shells. To subdue shear, trapezoidal and thickness locking, the assumed natural strain method and an ad hoc modified generalized laminate stiffness matrix are employed. A selectively reduced integrated element is formulated with its membrane and bending shear strain components taken to be constant and equal to the ones evaluated at the element centroid. With the generalized stresses arising from the modified generalized laminate stiffness matrix assumed to be independent from the ones obtained from the displacement, an extended Hellinger–Reissner functional can be derived. By choosing the assumed generalized stresses similar to the assumed stresses of a previous solid element, a hybrid‐stress solid‐shell element is formulated. Commonly employed geometric non‐linear homogeneous and laminated shell problems are attempted and our results are close to those of other state‐of‐the‐art elements. Moreover, the hybrid‐stress element converges more readily than the selectively reduced integrated element in all benchmark problems. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.