suggestions about the mathematical foundations of optimal layout problems.

APPENDIX.-REFERENCES

1. Kohn, R., and Strang, G., "Optimal Design for Torsional Rigidity," Conf. Mixed and Hybrid Finite Element Methods, Atlanta, Ga., Apr., 1981. 2. Olhoff, N., and Rozvany, G. I. N., "Optimal Grillage Layout for Given Natural Frequency," Journal of the Engineering Mechanics Division, ASCE, Vol. 108, No. EM4, 1982. 3. Prager, W., and Shield, R. T., "A General Theory of Optimal Plastic Design," Journal of Applied Mechanics, ASME, Vol. 35, No. 1, 1967, pp. 184-186. 4. Prager, W., and Rozvany, G. I. N., "Optimal Layout of Grillages," Journal of Structural Mechanics, Vol. 5, No. 1, 1977, pp. 1-18. 5. Prager, W., and Rozvany, G. I. N., "Optimization of Structural Geometry," Proceedings Conference on 'Dynamic Systems,' A. R. Bednarek and L. Cesari, eds., Academic Press, New York, N.Y., 1977, pp. 265-294. 6. Rozvany, G. I. N., Optimization of Flexural Systems, Pergamon Press, Oxford, England, 1976. 7. Rozvany, G. I. N., "Variational Methods and Optimality Criteria," Proceedings of NATO ASI Optimization of Distributed Parameter Structures, E. J. Haug and J. Cea, eds., Sijthoff & Noordhoff, Aphen aan den Rijn, The Netherlands, 1981, pp. 82-111. 8. Rozvany, G. I. N., "Optimality Criteria for Grids, Shells and Arches," Proceedings of NATO ASI Optimization of Distributed Parameter Structures, E. J. Haug, and J. Cea, eds., Sijthoff & Noordhoff, Aphen aan den Rijn, The Netherlands, 1981, pp. 112-151. 9. Rozvany, G. I. N., Wang. C.-M., and Dow, M., "Prager-Structures: ArchGrids and Cable Networks of Optimal Layout," Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, Vol. 31, 1982. 10. Rozvany, G. I. N., Olhoff, N., Cheng, K.-T., and Taylor, J. E. "On the Solid Plate Paradox in Structural Optimization," DCAMM Report No. 212, also Journal of Structural Mechanics, Vol. 10, No. 1, 1982, pp. 1-32.

TECHNIQUE FOR ESTIMATING NATURAL FREQUENCIES

By Robert Schmidt, 1 M. ASCE
INTRODUCTION

The Rayleigh method for estimating fundamental frequencies of beams, plates, and other similar structures makes use of approximating functions of the form 'Prof, of Engrg. Mech., Dept. of Civ. Engrg., Univ. of Detroit, Detroit, Mich. 48221. Note.Discussion open until September 1, 1983. To extend the closing date one month, a written request must be filed with the ASCE Manager of Technical and Professional Publications. The manuscript for this paper was submitted for review and possible publication on September 2, 1981. This paper is part of the Journal of Engineering Mechanics, Vol. 109, No. 2, April, 1983. ASCE, ISSN 0733-9399/83/0002-0654/$01.00. Paper No. 17841. 654
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y = Cf(x1,x2, ,.., xM)

(1)

in which C = undetermined constant which may be set equal to unity; / = assumed shape function; and x's represent the M independent variables. Herein, the utility of approximating functions of the form y = Cf(xltx2, ...,xM; rti,n2, ..., nN) (2)

will be demonstrated by means of several relatively simple examples. In Eq. 2, the constant parameters n are to be adjusted in such a way as to minimize (or nearly minimize) the approximate value of the natural frequency. (It should be recalled that Rayleigh's method yields an upper bound for the frequency.)
EXAMPLE ONE

Consider a prismatic cantilever beam vibrating freely. Taking the origin of coordinates at the clamped end and assuming for the deflection function y(x) y = cx2 Thomson (3) obtains from Rayleigh's formula (3)

"'['^"fA^h
y = cx

< 4 )

the value of the first natural frequency co = 4.47 (EI/pAL4)1/2 as compared to the exact value co = 3.52 (EI/pALy/2. The error amounts to 27%. In Eq. 4, L = length of the cantilever; A = its cross-sectional area; I = its areal moment of inertia; = modulus of elasticity; and p = mass density. In accordance with the technique proposed herein, Eq. 3 is replaced by (5) n\n - l)2(2n + 1) In - 3 Substitution of Eq. 5 in Eq. 4 yields pALW , = to EI
(6) w

Since Rayleigh's method yields an upper bound on the frequency, a minimum for co2 or co2 is wanted. It can be obtained by differentiating Eq. 6 (implicitly) with respect to n, observing that d(&2)/dn must vanish, and then eliminating to2 with the aid of Eq. 6. Thus 83 - 16n2 + 2n + 3 = 0
2

(7)

from which n = 1.7303, and thus to = 15.464, and to = 3.932 with an error of 12%. The function y = Cxx2 + C2xm yields m 2.7 and co * 3.521.
EXAMPLE TWO

For the second example consider a simply supported prismatic beam of length, L. Assume
655
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y = C{Ln-lx - *")

(8)

which satisfies the imposed boundary conditions y(0) = y(L) = 0. Eqs. 4 and 8 yield
a2 = PALV_

EI

3n2(n + 2)(2n + l) 2(2n - 3)

Jacobsen and Ayre (2) take n = 2 and obtain w2 = 120, w = 10.9545. However, the minimization of Eq. 9 leads to 12n3 - 4n2 - 41n - 12 = 0
2

(10)

from which n = 2.1442, so that Eq. 9 yields u> = 117.31, and w = 10.831. The exact value is w = IT2 = 9.8696 (Ref. 2).
EXAMPLE THREE

Consider a wedge-shaped cantilever beam of constant thickness b and variable depth h = Hx/L, in which the distance x is measured along the beam from its tip. Timoshenko, Young, and Weaver (4) assume for the shape function

*= H)

< " >

2 2

and obtain pLW/EH = 2.5 = (1.5811) , from Eq. 4. The assumed function

y=c{l-ii
in conjunction with Eq. 4 yields _2
(0

(12)

plW
T- =

n(n2 - 1) (2w + 1)
(13)

v ; EH2 4(2n - l)(2n - 3) Differentiation of Eq. 13 for the purpose of minimization is difficult in this case. For that reason, the trial-and-improvement procedure has been used to obtain the approximate value n = 2.24, which leads to w2 = 2.3938, and w = 1.5472, as compared to the exact value w = 1.534 (Ref. 4). The error for the approximate frequency obtained herein is less than 1%, while the approximate one-term solution (n = 2) (4) displays an error of 3%.

EXAMPLE FOUR

Consider the prismatic propped cantilever examined by Hutton (1). Taking the origin of coordinates at the clamped end, Hutton assumes y = 4(x/L)3 - 7{x/Lf + 3(x/L)5, a deflection function that satisfies all four, boundary conditions: y(0) = y'(0) = y{L) = y"(L) = 0. He obtains w2 = pAL4(a2/EI = 365.5 = (19.1)2 as compared to the exact value w2 = (15.42)2. (The inaccuracy of Hutton's value can be explained by the fact that his assumed function yields vanishing bending moment at the clamped end.) A simpler and better assumption, y = 3(x/L)2 5(x/L)3
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+ 2(x/Lf, yields d>2 = 238.737 = (15.4511)2. However, even this accurate value can still be improved by assuming y = x2 - Bx" + Dx4 (14) in which B = 10/[12 - n(n - 1)], D = [n(n - 1) - 2]/[12 - n(n - 1)], if the conditions y(L) = y"(L) = 0 are to be satisfied. Substitution of Eq. 14 in Eq. 4 yields a fairly long expression for w2 as a function of n. An approximate minimization of this long expression by trial and improvement gives n 3.2 and w2 238.234 = (15.4348)2, a very accurate value (about 0.1% error).
EXAMPLE FIVE

Consider a clamped circular plate of radius a, uniform thickness h, and bending rigidity D. Assume for the shape function w = C(a" - r"f (15) which satisfies the boundary conditions. The Rayleigh condition for this problem can be written in the form , 2 w'2 u>2phw2\ u/12 + - w'w" + )rdr = 0 r r2 D / (16)

in which w' = dw/dr; and r = the radial distance. Eqs. 15 and 16 yield 3(-l)(2 - l)(3n - 2) - - = 2(n + 1) (n + 2)(2n + 1)(3M + 2)(2n2 - 3n + 2) (17) Differentiation of this equation is difficult, but a simple trial-and-correction procedure leads to an approximate least value of n = 1.85, with which u2p/w4/D = 104.979 = (10.2459)2, as compared to the exact value of (10.21)2 which is found in Ref. 4. If n = 2 in Eq. 15, as in Ref. 4, Eq. 17 yields &)2p/w4/D = 106.667 = (10.328)2, a worse value than the preceding approximate one.
CONCLUSIONS

The foregoing examples attest the usefulness of the proposed technique for estimating fundamental frequencies of nondiscrete systems. Moreover, they successfully introduce nonintegral powers of variables into the Rayleigh-Ritz analysis.
APPENDIX.-REFERENCES

1. Hutton, D. V., Applied Mechanical Vibrations, McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., New York, N.Y., 1981 2. Jacobsen, L. S., and Ayre, R. S., Engineering Vibrations, McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., New York, N.Y., 1958. 3. Thomson, W. T., Theory of Vibration with Applications, 2nd ed., Prentice-Hall Inc., Englewood Cliffs, N.J., 1981. 4. Timoshenko, S., Young, D. H., and Weaver, W., Jr., Vibration Problems in Engineering, 4th ed., John Wiley & Sons, New York, N.Y., 1974 657
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