Applied-Ma!

~henlatics and Mechanics Published by SUT,

(English Edition, Vol. 15, No. 5, May 1994) Shanghai, China

THE GENERAL SOLUTION FOR DYNAMIC RESPONSE OF NONHOMOGENEOUS

BEAM WITH V A R I A B L E CROSS SECTION*

Ji Zhen-yi (~,-J~ Y.)

(Anhui Architectural Industo' Colh.ge, Hefei)

Yeh Kai-yuan (la~-~.~.)

(Lanzhou University, Lanzhou)

(Received May 21, 1992)

Abstract
Ill this paper by means o.f the exact analytic method [1], the general solution.for
dynamic response of nonhomogeneous beam with variable cross section is obtained un-
der arbitrary resonant load and bounda O' conditions. The problem is reduced to soh'e
a non-positive d(fferential equation. Generally, it is not soh,ed by variational method.
By the present method, the general solution for this problem may be written as an ana-
lytic/~rm. Hence. it is convenient ./'or structure optimizing problem. In this paper, its
convergence is proved. Numerical examples are given at the end of the paper, which in-
dicates satis/actory results can be obtained.

Key words variable cross section beam, dynamic response, exact analytic
method, steady-state resonant vibration

I. Introduction
The strength, stability and dynamic analyses of nonhomogeneous beam with variable cross
section are very important whether irr theory or in practice.
The stability and free vibration problems of nonhomogeneous beam were solved by trans-
fering the matrix method in [2-3]. In [4], the stability and free vibration problems of non-
homogeneous beam resting on elastic foundation were dealt with by the same method. But
their final results are numerical solutions. It is difficult to write a united analytic expression. In
[5], the same problem of nonhomogeneous beam was solvg'd. Finally it was reduced to solve a
transcendental algebraic equation with analytic expression.
In this paper, ~ e general solution for dynamic response of nonhomogeneous beam with
variable cross section is obtained under arbitrary resonant load and boundary conditions by
the theory in [I]. The problem is reduced to solve a non-positive definite differential equation.
Using variational method to solve the differential equation, the positive definite of equation is
needed. Hence, it is difficult to solve 'this problem by conventional method. In this paper, the

*Project supported by the National Natural Sc:ience Foundation of China

405
4116 Ji Zhen-yi and Yeh Kai-yuan

analvtic expression of the problem is given based on the theory in [I]. It is convenient in
optimizing the problem and its numeric~al procedure is simple and quick. The solution obtained
in this paper can converge to exact solution uniformly. The convergence p r o o f is given in this
paper. Numerical examples are given at the end of this paper which indicate the right of the
theory in this paper.
Otherwise, the present method can be developed to solve the dynamic response, problem
of frame structure without any difficulty.

II. The General Solution for Dynamic Response of N o n h o m o g e n e o u s Beam

With Variable Cross-Section

Consider a nonhomogeneous beam with variable cross section under resonant loads which
is shown .in Fig. I. Assume all the external forces q, M and P-can vary according to a same si-
mple. harmonic motion pattern as time goes on. The circular frequency of loads is co .When the
influence of damping may be neglected, its dynamic response equation can be written as

o~ [
Ox~ D(x)-
O~w(x't)
ax 2
] +re(x) 02w(x't) =q(x,t)
at 2
(z. l)

where D (.;~) is flexural rigidity which equals El, where E and 1 are elastic modulus and inertia
moment of beam cross-section about neutral axis respectively; m is the specific gravity of beam
at a unit length and w is lateral deflection.

Peo~i
QoCOB(I.q
I1tlltlt M~costa/
QICOl~Jt

(I
Mico~t
Q~Ostot

L Z _1
I- -q
Fig. 1 A nonhomogeneous beam with variable cross
section under resonante loads

In engineering, the case where beam undergoes resonant loads often occurs. In this case,
the structure design avoided in resonant area is generally needed. Beyond resonant area, the
damping influence to structure vibration is very small, which may be neglected. The displace-
ment and resultant force amplitudes of beam in stability vibration can be given directly with-
out using vibration shape decomposition method. By this method, it is inclined to safe for de-
sign and the problem is simplified greatly i~i when stability vibration occurs, all loads, deforma-
tions, resultant forces, bearing forces and inertia forces can vary in a same harmonic motion
pattern. They may obtain the m a x i m u m themselves at the same time. Usin~

q(x,t) =q(x)coscot, w(x,t) =w(x)cOScot (2.2)

and substituting into (2.1) we havc

._d~D(x)d' _d2v~(X)dx
~ -m(x)~ =q(x) (2 3)
 Dynfimic Response of Nonhomogeneous Beam 407
The positive directions of external forces, resultant forces and coordinate are shown in Fig.l.
If the upward displacement and the counter clockwise inclination angle are supposed to be po-
sitive, the amplitudes w(x), inclination angle ~p(x) . m o m e n t M ( x ) a n d shear force Q(x) can
be expressed as

w(x)=w(x), dw(x)
dx
d2w(x) d2w(x)
9M ( x ) =D(x) dx z- --, Q ( x ) -_ dx
d D
dx 2 (x) (2.4)
It is a difficult thing to solve (2.3) for arbitrary coefficient D(x) and re(x). Since (2.3) is a non-
positive definite differential equation, it can not be solved by the variational method. We may
re~vritc equation (213) as
d~ d2w(x)
dx* D(x)- dx 2 + (xm(x)c~zw(x) ) ,,-x(m(x)co%o(x) ) ,.----q(x) (2.5)

by the method in [I]. the beam can be divided into N elements. Supposing that the interval i-th
clement is [x .... x,). ~n the i-th element equation (2.5) can tJecome

D d~ = 0 xE lx,_, .x,) (2.6)

where D expresses the value of D(x) at the middle point of i-th element. Moreover. the con-
tinuous condition between elements must satisfy the following equations:

limt~(x,_l-e) =~,(x,_l), l i r a ~ ( x , _ l - e ) = ~ ( x , - 1 ) = ~ " ~ " ~ l x x~_l

f-.', 0 e-'-* 0

9 d2w
[imM (x,_l - e ) = ~I (x,_~ ) :=D,.('-~-2 )x=xi_l
c~O

l i m O ( x , _ t - e ) =I~ (x,_t) = ( D, dSe + ) *=x,_l (2.z)

e---*O

where ~, is the coordinate value at the middle point of i-th element which equals (x, +x~_~)/2
a n d e is an arbitrary positive number. We can prove ff~(x), ~ ( x ) , .~l(x)and Q(x)
obtained by (2.6-2.7) converge to exact solution w ( x ) , q~(x), M(x) and Q(x)of ( 2 . 3 - 2 .
4) unifornily as well as that of having second order speed of convergence. The general solution
of the'problem can be written as ill
tt_l
{6(x) t = [F, (x - x , _ l ) ] {c~(0) } + i F , (x) }.+ }_7, {x-xi,]. ~ [ F , ( x - x l _ t ) ] {Ab}
t-I

{Ai_l} -= ( [ F , _ , (x,_l - x , _ d ] - [I] ) {c3(0) i + {P~-I (x,_l) }

l-Z

+ ~ (F, (x,_~-x,_2) :-[1]) tA~,} (2.8)

k=l

where vector
{6(x)}=itTa(x) ~(x) ~.(x) Q(x)} ~ (2.9)
and symbol
408 Ji Zhen-yi and Yeh Kai-yuan

o (x<x~)
tx-xk} ~={
t (x>x,)
is the Hcavisidc function. [ F , ( x ) ] is a 4 • matrix and { P , ( x ) [ is a 4 • I load vector. They
arc the basic solution and the special solution of (2.6) respectively: Otherwise, we should make

[F,(0)=-[IJ, {P,(x,_,)].=0 (2.10)

By. (2.6). ( 2 . 7 ). (2.9) and (2. 10), we can find

f 1- ~(x,_i)(x-x,_l)S/6D, x-x,_,

~(x,_,) (x__x,_t) 2 1
tk'.tx-x,_.)J = : TIX-,
--r (x-x,_,) o
~'.,n[ , ~(x,_,)
- 6~_/3, (x--x,_~)
~]- ~ ( x , _ ~ ) ~(x)(x-x,_~)

(X--X,_,) -~ (X - - XJ - l )
2D, 6D,

x-x,_, (x-x,_~) ~
D, 2D, (21~)
1 x --xl_ l

~(x) ( x - x , _ ~ ) : (x-x,_~) 3
2D, 1+~(x) 6D,

(x-p) "~
6D, q(p)dp
( x - - P ) 2 q(p')dp
{ P, (x) t --=J'~_," 2Dr (2.12)
(x-p)q(p)dp
( 1 +~(x)
(x--P)a)q(p)dp
6Dj

where

r (x) = ( x - *,)m(x)co ~
If the loads contain concentratmn force P and moment M at the coordinates x, and x,,, respec-
tiveh' in the i-th element, noting that lateral distribution loads

v,(x) =Pa(x-x,), qm(x)= -M~'(x-x..)

~hich are equivalent to P and M, and substituting into (2.12), by integration we have

(x-x,) 3

9 1
{P,(x)},=Ptx-x,}~ l (X.--'X,)-
 Dynamic Response of Nonhomogeneous' Beam 409
X --Xp ]
~(x) (x_x~) ~ J
~+--UOT,

I =
- ~ , ( x - x .)

9 1
tPr --alix-x,.F ~ ~ (X--Xm) (;'. la)
1"

B~ (2.8), the general solution for dynamic response of nonhomogeneous beam with variable
cross section is obtained under arbitrary concentration force and moment loads.
Substituting end coordinate x = x , into (2.8), we have

i, I

x~here k u and ]'~ are known, the components of .[g)(0)} can be numbered according to the
order of arrangement. For example, if w and M are known on boundary, then the numbers of
known boundary conditions are (i.3) and the unknown boundary conditions are (2.4). When
1he numbers of the known boundary conditions are (m,, mz) and the unknown boundary con-
ditions are (m, , ira) at .v=0. as well as the unknown boundary conditions are 01,, n_,) at x = x , ,
the problem can be reduced to solve simultaneous equations of the first degree with two un-
knowns which was written a3

where symbol 6,,,(0) is the m-th component in {6(0)} 9 By solving equation (2.15), the value
of {d(x0) } is given. Then by (2.8), the amplitudes of displacement and resultant force can be
given at arbitrary point on variable cross section beam.
it is noted that the strength problem of nonhomogeneous beam with variable cross-section
can also be solved by (2.8) when ca = 0 .

III. The Convergence Proof

Equation (2.6) can be rewritten as

d ~ ID d%
dx 2 ~ ' dx 2 l + (x'm(x)ca~w(x) ) , . - 2 , ( m ( x ) c ~ ) ,.-~q(x) (3. I)

Equation (2.5) and (3.1) can be expressed as differential operator form

Aw=q(x), ,4,W=q(x) x~[x~_l,x~) (3.2)
410 Ji Zhen-yi and Yeh Kai-yuan
respectively, the difference of the above two equations is an identity which is expressed as
Am - /1~----0

We can get the inner product

N

l i m (,;b, A t o - / 1 w ) = g m (7, , y~, ( A , w - / 1 g , ) ) = 0 (a.a;

N "-'~ ":'t:' r

where 4~E}V~z~, /4:~z' is Sobolev space. On integration by part, when N ~ co, we have

lin~ (,,b, A w -/1,/,) = l i m ( A * r - w)

+lim r (M - , , ~ ) . M. Cv-'-~) _0, (m-w) )1 (3 4)

N -..+ a o . dx
.,~ i - 1

~hcre ,4* is coniugatc differential operator of A. M* and Q* are conjugate boundary condi-
tions and we havc assumed that they are continuous in [~1, x,v]. By continuous condition (2.7)
between elements and four known boundary condition, letting the conjugate boundary condi-
tions of other t\~ur unknown boundary' conditions be equal to zero, wehave
J i m (A*cb, .~0- w) =~l (a.5)
N-+,OQ

According to inverse Hibert adjoint operator theorem, (A*)-~ exists when the conjt,.gate bound-
ary conditions arc equal to zero, if ,4 has inverse operator A -~ under the. given boundary con-
ditions. Specially when

it can be got that unique solution q . , f : ~ a ) ~1" and Q~ are continuous in [ 0 , x N ] . Hence we
have

h m I x*" (u, - ~,)2dx=O (8 g)

N .-+ r d 0

Because w - f o , v o - ~ , l ~ l - M and O - ~ ) are continuous in [O,xN.] , they are bounded. By

(3.6). we can easily prove W, ~ , .,$/and ~) converge to w~ V-v, M and Q obtained by (2.
3) uniformly.

IV. Numerical Examples

N u m e r i c a l e x a m p l e 1 In order to compare with exact solutions, we consider a uni-
form beam with equal cross section, which is shown in Fig. 2. The left boundary of beam is
clamped and the right boundary is simply supported. Its height a = 1, length L = 10, width b =
I, elastic modulus E = 120000 and inertia momedat of cross-section /=1/12. In Table I, the
deflection and moment obtained by the present method are shown and compared with exact
solution [6]. when element number N = I 0 0 and k = (moo ~ / E 1 ) 1 " = 0 . 5 . In Table 2, the
amplitudes of displacement and moment with different k at initial and middle point of beam
are given when N = 20. In Table 3, the convergence rate of Solution is shown when N increases.
 D y n a m i c Response o f N o n h o m o g e n e o u s Beam 411

q
lIllIItIIlll il-I

L_
I - ' I
F!g. 2 A u n i f o r m b e a m with e q u a l c r o s s s e c t i o n
u n d e r u n i f o r m d i s t r i b u t i o n load

Table 1 T h e a m p l i t u d e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f d e f l e c t i o n a n d m o m e n t o f u n i f o r m b e a m with e q u -
al c r o s s s e c t i o n (N---- 100)
I
x 0 I 1 2 3 1 4 ; 5 ! 6 ; 7 8 i 9 10
- - i I
Prcscnl~ 0 i 2.479 9,024 17.72 26.21 32.21 34.06 30.991 23.39 12.49
Elw(x) i I. . . . .

Exact i 0 2.517 9.127 17.851 26.31 32.23 33.96i 30.82 i 23.20 13.36
----i ~ i - I r
2.186 -0.2125i-2.532 -4.251 -4.992 I-4.630 /-3.339
2.152 I - - ~ -- 2.590 j--4~2;4--4"19~- --4.;50/t--3.249 " 1 . 5 0 7

Table 2 The values of w and M of uniforrp beam with equal cross section (N =20) -

M(O) Elw(5) M(5)

Present Exact Present Exact Present Exact
0 -12.5 -12.5 -- 52.08 --52.08 6.25 6.25
0.1 -12.55 -12.55 -52.30 -52.30 6.277 6.278
0.5 5.068 5.351 32.82 32.23 -4.276 -4.275

Table 3 The convergence rate of w and M when N increases

P
N 10 20 40 100 ioo 500 Exact
. . . . . . i. . . . . . . .
M(O) 5.373 5.068 ' 5.139 5.249 5.298 5.339 5.351
w(5) 35.15 33.83 32.3i 32.21 32.22 33.23 32.22
M(5) -4.584 -4.276 -4.238 -4.251 --4.261 -4.268 j --4.275

Numerical example g Consider a n o n h o m o g e n e o u s cantilever beam with variable

cross section under a uniform distribution load. It is shown in Fig. 3. In Fig. 3, l = 10, a = 2 , b
= I, elestic m o d u l u s E = 120000, inertia m o m e n t o f cross section / = 1/12, width equals I. The
product o f the specific gravity on the unit length o f beam and angular frequency o z is written
as
moo2 = 1 2 5 0 0 - 6 2 5 x
9 q

L ~ . . . . . I
t ]

Fig. 3 A cantilever beam with variable cross section

412 Ji Zhen-yi and Yeh Kai-yuan

In Table 4. the amplitude distribution of deflection and resultant force along x axis are given
and compared with the case that angular frequency co=0, when N = 100.

Table 4 The a m p l i t u d e distribution of deflection and r e s u l t a n t force of c a n t i l e v e r b e a m

with v a r i a b l e cross section ( N = 1 0 0 )

X
J 0i 1 I 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
_J

0 - ' - 0 2332 -0.6007-0.60ll 0.2406 2322 5.901 11.03 17.50 24.99 32.64
w x 10 ~ i~A=oi
1o)=0 0 3.071 -t2,04 -26.49 -45.92 -09.74 -97.25 -127.7 --160.1 --193.76 - 227.8

't I"'=~0 ~-~ 5 . 0 3 2 , O. 9261

- 2.152 4.168 5.126 5.110 4. 309 3.012 1.591 l 0.4558 0

ir -50 -40 5 - 32 - 24 5 - 18 -12.50 8 -4.5 - 2 I-0.5 0

~.,:u 4 608 3. 598 2.552 1 481 0.44~7 - 0 4 4 9 2 - 1.106 -1.426 -1.347 -0.8577
O oJ=0 " 10 9 8 7 6 4 2 1

The above ntunerical examples indicate that the satisfilctory results can be obtained by the
present method and converge to exact solution. The correctness of theory is confirmed.

References
[I .li Zhcn-.xi and Yeh Kai-}uan. Exact analyti c rnethod for solving arbitrary variable
coefficient differential equation...IplV..%lalh, aml,,%h'ch.. 10, 10 (1989). 8 4 1 - 8 5 2 .
[2 Yeh Kai-yuan, General solutions ol] certain problems of elasticity with nonhomogeneity
;.tlld variable Ihickness, IV. Bending. buckling and frec vibration of nonhomogeneous
xarlablc thickness bean]s, Join'hal el Lan:.lum Unirersilv, Special Number of Mechanics,
I(1979), t 3 3 - 157. (it] Chinese)
~ Ych Kai-~uan, Ding Yan-nian, Buckling and free vibration of nonhomogeneous vari-
able thickness continuous beam, 18, 2 (1983), 4 2 - 7 4 . {in Chinese)
4 I Ych Kai->uan. Zheng Shu-ving. Buckling of nonhomogencous variable thickness beam
on nonhomogclleOus elastic f o u n d a t i o n . . h , m m d , I Lan-hou t'nire,'sity, special Number
of Mcchanics. 19. (1983). 3 7 - 5 7 . (in ('hinese)
5 ] Ych Kai-.~uan. Ji Zhen-vi. The step-reduction method for buckling and free vibration of
nonunil'orm beams x~ith \:.triable cross section, Journal of Lanzhou University, 26, 2
(199()). 4()-4G. (in (hinese)
6 ] Wang Guang-yuan. I'ihrati<m ~!I ,.trchi'cclurc Slruclurc. Science Publishing House. 1978.
1 5 0 - 153. (in ('hincsc)