Dynamic stiffness matrix for variable cross-section Timoshenko beams

The Timoshenko beam model incorporates the effect of shear deformations and rotary inertia in the vibration response of beams. For constant cross-section beams it was shown that the effect is dependent on the aspect ratio of the beams, and for beams with large ratio the effect is small. In this work exact vibration frequencies for variable cross-section beams are found using the dynamic stiffness matrix approach. An example is given and compared with known results of beams with various taper ratios.