Free vibration analysis of sandwich beam carrying sprung masses

In this paper, free vibration of three-layered symmetric sandwich beam carrying sprung masses is investigated using the dynamic stiffness method and the finite element formulation. First the governing partial differential equations of motion for one element are derived using Hamilton’s principle. Closed form analytical solution of these equations is determined. Applying the effect of sprung masses by replacing each sprung mass with an effective spring on the boundary condition of the element, the element dynamic stiffness matrix is developed. These matrices are assembled and the boundary conditions of the beam are applied, so that the dynamic stiffness matrix of the beam is derived. Natural frequencies and mode shapes are computed by the use of numerical techniques and the well known Wittrick–Williams algorithm. Free vibration analysis using the finite element method is carried out by increasing one degree of freedom for each sprung mass. Finally, some numerical examples are discussed using the dynamic stiffness method and the finite element formulation. After verification of the present model, the effect of various parameters such as mass and stiffness of the sprung mass is studied on the natural frequencies.

Research highlights
► Dynamic stiffness method is a fast and easy computation technique.
► The effect of sprung mass on the natural frequency is similar to attached mass.
► The effect of sprung mass on the natural frequency is similar to elastic support.
► The effect of sprung masses considered by the effective spring.
► The effect of sprung masses considered by increasing one degree of freedom.