Computing Natural Frequencies and Mode Shapes of an Axially Moving Non-Uniform Beam

The partial differential equation of motion of an axially moving beam with spatially varying geometric, mass and material properties has been derived. Using the theory of linear time-varying systems, a general algorithm has been developed to compute natural frequencies, mode shapes, and the critical speed for stability. Numerical results from the new method are presented for beams with spatially varying rectangular cross sections with sinusoidal variation in thickness and sine-squared variation in width. They are also compared to those from the Galerkin method. It has been found that critical speed of the beam can be significantly reduced by non-uniformity in a beam’s cross section.