EFFECT OF THE FINITE ELEMENT MODELING TECHNIQUES ON THE DYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF BEAMS

Abstract

Analysis of the free and forced vibration responses of beams is one of the most critical problems to be examined in the design step of these structural members. The finite-element method which solves boundary value problems can be applied efficiently to vibration problems. In this study, the natural vibration frequency and damped and undamped transient analyses of the pinned-pinned beams are investigated. The well-known finite-element software packages, ANSYS and SAP200, are used. The 2-D elastic beam which is based on the Euler-Bernoulli Beam theory, 3-D two-node and 3-D three-node beam elements which are based on Timoshenko beam theory, and four-node shell elements are used in ANSYS and the frame member is utilized in SAP2000. The effect of these elements on the dynamic behaviors of the isotropic beam is discussed. The results are given in tabular and graphical form for the free and forced vibration, respectively.