Application of the Green functions to the problem of the thermally induced vibration of a beam

This paper considers the problem of the transverse vibrations of a beam induced by a mobile heat source. The formulation of the problem is based on the differential equations of heat conduction and transverse vibrations of the beam, which are complemented by suitable initial and boundary conditions. The effect of internal and external damping on the vibrations of the beam is considered. The solution to the problem in analytical form is obtained by using the properties of the Green functions. A time partitioning method has been used to avoid the difficulties associated with the slow convergence of the series occurring in the solution to the heat conduction problem. The numerical results of the thermally induced vibration. of the beam are presented. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.