Vibration analysis of beam with multiple cracks

Abstract

The present work deals with the free vibration analysis of a cracked beam with multiple transverse cracks using finite element method. In this analysis, an ‘overall additional flexibility matrix’, instead of the ‘local additional flexibility matrix’ is added to the flexibility matrix of the corresponding intact beam element to obtain the total flexibility matrix, and from there the result is compared with previous studies. The natural frequencies of free vibration of the beam with multiple cracks are computed. It is observed that with increase in number of cracks the natural frequencies decreases. The effect of cracks is more pronounced when the cracks are near to the fixed end than free end. The natural frequency decreases with increase in relative crack depth.