Dynamic analysis of a Timoshenko beam subjected to moving concentrated forces using the finite element method

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Lou, Ping | Dai, Gong-lian | Zeng, Qing-yuan

Affiliations: School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Railway Campus, Central South University, 22 Shao-shan-nan Road, Changsha, Hunan 410075, P.R. China

Note: [] Corresponding author. Fax: +86 731 5571736; E-mail: pinglou@mail.csu.edu.cn or pingloucsu@126.com

Abstract: This paper presents finite element formulations for an elastic Timoshenko beam subjected to moving concentrated forces. The results obtained by the present method are compared with those obtained by the assumed mode method published in the existing literature to verify the correctness of the present method. The present method can analyze the dynamic response for a Timoshenko or Bernoulli-Euler beam with various boundary conditions subjected to moving concentrated forces. Numerical results show that the present method is more effective than the discrete element technique published in the existing literature for investigating the dynamic problem of Timoshenko beam.

Keywords: Timoshenko beam, finite element method, moving concentrated force, dynamic analysis, Bernoulli-Euler beam, equation of motion

Journal: Shock and Vibration, vol. 14, no. 6, pp. 459-468, 2007