Free vibration Analysis of Beams with Functional Gradient Materials with Cracks

Abstract

The article presents the development of a dynamic model for a functionally graded material (FGM) beam incorporating cracks. Initially, it assumes an exponential distribution of material properties along the thickness direction of the beam and simulates the opening crack using a zero-mass rotational spring model. This approach enables the calculation of bending stiffness and local flexibility at the cracked section. Subsequently, drawing upon Timoshenko beam theory and von Kármán geometric nonlinear theory, the study formulates the energy equation of the beam and establishes the partial differential control equations for the cracked FGM using Hamilton's principle. The method of separation of variables is employed to discretize the partial differential motion equations into ordinary differential motion equations. Beam functions serve as mode functions, whose unknown coefficients are determined according to the boundary and continuity conditions, thereby yielding the natural frequencies and mode shapes of the cracked FGM beam. Numerical analysis is conducted to evaluate the impact of boundary conditions, the relative position of cracks, and the length-to-thickness ratio on the natural frequencies of the cracked FGM beam.