Two Kinds of Finite Element Variables Based on B-Spline Wavelet on Interval for Curved Beam

Curved beam structure has been widely used in engineering, due to its good load-bearing and geometric characteristics. More common methods for analyzing and designing this structure are the finite element methods (FEMs), but these methods have many disadvantages. Fortunately, the multivariable wavelet FEMs can solve these drawbacks. However, the multivariable generalized potential energy functional of curved beam, used to construct this element, has not been given in previous literature. In this paper, the generalized potential energy functional for curved beam with two kinds of variables is derived initially. On this basis, the B-spline wavelet on the interval (BSWI) is used as the interpolation function to construct the wavelet curved beam element with two kinds of variables. In the end, several typical numerical examples of thin to thick curved beams are given, which show that the present element is more effective in static and free vibration analysis of curved beam structures.