The present paper deals with the dynamic behaviour of a clamped beam subjected to a sub-tangential follower force at the free end. The aim of this work is to obtain the frequency-axial load relationship for a beam with a variable circular cross-section. In this way, one can identify both divergence critical loads - where the frequency goes to zero - and the flutter critical load - in correspondence with two frequencies coalescence. The numerical approach adopted for solving the partial differential equation of motion is the differential quadrature method (henceforth DQM). This method was proposed by Bellmann and Casti [Bellmann, R.E., Casti, J., 1971. Differential quadrature and long-term integration. J. Math. Anal. 34, 235-238] and has been employed recently in the solution of solid mechanics problems by Bert and Malik [Bert, C.W., Malik, M., 1996. Differential quadrature method in computational mechanics: a review. Appl. Mech. Rev., ASME, 49 (1), 1-28] and Chen et al. [Chen, W., Stritz, A.G., Bert, C.W., 1997. A new approach to the differential quadrature method for fourth-order equations. Int. J. Numer. Method Eng. 40, 1941-1956]. More precisely, a modified version of this method has been used, as proposed by De Rosa and Franciosi [De Rosa, M.A., Franciosi, C., 1998a. On natural boundary conditions and DQM. Mech. Res. Commun. 25 (3), 279-286; De Rosa, M.A., Franciosi, C., 1998b. Non classical boundary conditions and DQM.-J. Sound Vibrat. 212(4), 743-748] to satisfy all the boundary conditions. Some frequencies-axial loads relationships are reported in order to show the influence of tapering on the critical loads. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
