Thermal effect on the deformation of a flexible beam with large kinematical driven overall motions

The research investigates the transient longitudinal and transverse deformation of a planar flexible beam with large overall motions in a temperature field. With the increase of temperature, longitudinal deformation is caused by the thermal expansion in axial direction. Due to the coupling of longitudinal and transverse deformation, the transverse deformation is induced, which is significant in cases where temperature increases rapidly in a very short period. Furthermore, the transverse temperature gradient, which is caused by the temperature variation in the transverse direction, may lead to transverse deformation. Considering the thermal strain, equations of motion of a flexible beam with arbitrary large overall motion are derived based on virtual work principle. The high order terms of the strain tensor are taken into account, such that the geometric nonlinear deformation terms are included in the dynamic equations. Simulation results of a rotating beam are shown to reveal the thermal effect and nonlinear effect on the dynamic performance of the beam.