FREE VIBRATION AND BUCKLING ANALYSIS OF BEAMS WITH A MODIFIED COUPLE-STRESS THEORY

Abstract

A model based on a modified couple stress theory for the free vibration and buckling analyses of beams is presented. The model also incorporates the Poisson's effect and allows the analysis of Timoshenko beams with any arbitrary end boundary condition. The natural frequencies and buckling loads are computed using the Ritz method. Parametric studies show that, while the natural frequencies and the buckling loads increase monotonically with the increase of the material length scale, they present a minimum in certain values of the Poisson's ratio. A study relating the classical elasticity and the couple stress strain energies is also presented. By establishing this relation, explicit formulas to obtain the natural frequencies and buckling loads, in which the couple stress and Poisson's effects are accounted for, in terms of the buckling loads of the classical elasticity are found. These formulas, which are valid when the shear strain and stress are zero, allow an expedite computation of natural frequencies and buckling loads of beams with couple stress and Poisson's effect.