Load motion along a beam on a viscoelastic half-space

Abstract An expression is derived for equivalent foundation of a viscoelastic half-space interacting with an Euler–Bernoulli beam. It is shown that this equivalent viscoelastic foundation depends on frequencies and wave numbers of the waves in the beam. The real and imaginary part of it substantially varies for phase velocities in between the Rayleigh and shear waves velocities. Radiation of elastic waves occurs for velocities larger than some velocity in that interval. The steady-state beam displacements due to a uniformly moving constant load are calculated for different velocities. The maximum displacement under the load takes place for a velocity of order of the Rayleigh waves velocity.