Effect of axial force on free vibration of Timoshenko multi-span beam carrying multiple spring-mass systems

The situation of structural elements supporting motors or engines attached to them is usual in technological applications. The operation of machine may introduce severe dynamic stresses on the beam. It is important, then, to know the natural frequencies of the coupled beam-mass system, in order to obtain a proper design of the structural elements. The literature regarding the free vibration analysis of Bernoulli–Euler single-span beams carrying a number of spring-mass system and Bernoulli–Euler multi-span beams carrying multiple spring-mass systems are plenty, but that of Timoshenko multi-span beams carrying multiple spring-mass systems with axial force effect is fewer. This paper aims at determining the exact solutions for the first five natural frequencies and mode shapes of a Timoshenko multi-span beam subjected to the axial force. The model allows analyzing the influence of the shear and axial force effects and spring-mass systems on the dynamic behavior of the beams by using Timoshenko Beam Theory (TBT). The effects of attached spring-mass systems on the free vibration characteristics of the 1–4 span beams are studied. The calculated natural frequencies of Timoshenko multi-span beam by using secant method for non-trivial solution for the different values of axial force are given in tables. The mode shapes are presented in graphs.