Abstract
A numerical method is presented to obtain the natural frequencies and mode shapes of the arbitrary tapered beams with static deflection due to arbitrary distributed dead loads. The differential equation governing free vibration of such beams is derived and solved numerically. The double integration method using the trapezoidal rule is used to solve the static behaviour of beams loaded arbitrary distributed dead load. Also, the Improved Euler method and the determinant search method are used to integrate the differential equation subjected to the boundary conditions and to determine the natural frequencies of the beams, respectively. In the numerical examples, the various geometries of the beams are considered : (1) linearly tapered beams as the arbitrary variable cross-section, (2) the triangular, sinusoidal and uniform loads as the arbitrary distributed dead loads and (3) the hinged-hinged, clamped-clamped and hinged-clamped ends as the end constraints. All numerical results are shown as the non-dimensional forms of the system parameters. The lowest three natural frequencies versus load parameter, slenderness ratio and section ratio are reported in figures. And for the comparison purpose, the typical mode shapes with and without the effects of static deflection are presented in the figure. According to the numerical results obtained in this analysis, the following conclusions may be drawn : (1) the natural frequencies increase when the effects of static deflections are included, (2) the effects are larger at the lower modes than the higher ones and (3) it should be betteF to include the effect of static deflection for calculating the frequencies when the beams are supported by both hinged ends or one hinged end.