VIBRATION ANALYSIS OF TIMOSHENKO BEAMS WITH NONHOMOGENEITY AND VARYING CROSS-SECTION

In this paper, an analytic solution for free and forced vibrations of stepped Timoshenko beams is presented and used for the approximate ana lysis of generally non-uniform Timoshenko beams. In the case of free v ibrations, the frequency equation is expressed in terms of some initia l parameters at one end of the beam; while in the case of forced vibra tions, the solution may be obtained by solving a set of algebraic equa tions with only two unknowns. Several examples are presented to illust rate the validity and accuracy of the analysis. (C) 1995 Academic Pres s Limited