Investigation of critical influential speed for moving mass problems on beams

A traveling mass due to its mass inertia has significant effects on the dynamic response of the structures. According to recent developments in structural materials and constructional technologies, the structures are likely to be affected by sudden changes of masses and substructure elements, in which the inertia effect of a moving mass is not negligible. The transverse inertia effects have been a topic of interest in bridge dynamics, design of railway tracks, guide way systems and other engineering applications such as modern high-speed precision machinery process. In this study an analytical-numerical method is presented which can be used to determine the dynamic response of beams carrying a moving mass, with various boundary conditions. It has been shown that the Coriolis acceleration, associated with the moving mass as it traverses along the vibrating beam shall be considered as well. Influences regarding the speed of the moving mass on the dynamic response of beams with various boundary conditions were also investigated. Results illustrated that the speed of a moving mass has direct influence on the entire structural dynamic response, depending on its boundary conditions. Critical influential speeds in the moving mass problems were introduced and obtained in numerical examples for various BC's. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.