Analysis of Timoshenko beam with Koch snowflake cross-section and variable properties in different boundary conditions using finite element method

Abstract

This study analyzed a Timoshenko beam with Koch snowflake cross-section in different boundary conditions and for variable properties. The equation of motion was solved by the finite element method and verified by Solidworks simulation in a way that the maximum error was about 2.9% for natural frequencies. Displacement and natural frequency for each case presented and compared to other cases. Significant research achievements illustrate that if we change the Koch snowflake cross-section of the beam from the first iteration to the second, the area and moment of inertia will increase, and we have a 5.2% rise in the first natural frequency. Similarly, by changing the cross-section from the second iteration to the third, a 10.2% growth is observed. Also, the hollow cross-section is considered, which can enlarge the natural frequency by about 26.37% compared to a solid one. Moreover, all the clamped-clamped, hinged-hinged, clamped-free, and free-free boundary conditions have the highest natural frequency for the Timoshenko beam with the third iteration of the Koch snowflake cross-section in solid mode. Finally, examining important physical parameters demonstrates that variable density from a minimum value to the standard value along the beam increases the natural frequencies, while variable elastic modulus decreases it.