Vibration of Multi-Span Timoshenko Beams to a Moving Force

Abstract A method of modal analysis is proposed in this paper to investigate the forced vibration of multi-span Timoshenko beams. The ratio of the radius of gyration of the cross-section to one span length is defined as a parameterr. The effect ofron the first modal frequency of a beam is studied. A concentrated force traversing on the beam is used as an example. The effects of span number, rotary inertia and shear deformation on the maximum moment, the maximum deflection and the critical velocity of a beam are examined. The results are compared with those of a multi-span Bernoulli–Euler beam.