Effect of cracks on the dynamic response of a simple beam subject to a moving load

Abstract

The effect of transverse cracks on the dynamic behaviour of simply supported undamped Bernoulli-Euler beams was determined. Crack presence in the beam results in higher deflection and alters the beam response patterns. In particular, for a given speed, the largest deflection in the beam takes longer to build up, and a discontinuity appears in the slope of the deflected shape of the beam at the crack location. In addition, for certain speeds the beam changes its pattern of deflection from downwards to upwards as the load leaves the beam. Crack effects become more noticeable as crack depth increases.