Dynamic response of a beam on multiple supports with a moving mass

Abstract

The dynamic behavior of an Euler beam with multiple point constraints traversed by a moving concentrated mass, a moving-force moving-mass problem, is analyzed and compared with the corresponding simplified moving-force problem. The equation of motion in matrix form is formulated using Lagrangian approach and the assumed mode method. The effects of the presence of intermediate point constraints in reducing the fluctuation of the contact force between the mass and the beam and the possible separation of the mass from the beam are investigated. The equation of motion and the numerical results are expressed in dimensionless form. The numerical results presented are therefore applicable for a large combination of system parameters.