In-Plane Vibration of Timoshenko Arcs with Variable Cross-Section

This paper studies in-plane vibrations of Timoshenko arcs with variable cross-section by the transfer matrix approach. For this purpose, the equations governing the in-plane vibration of the arcs are written in a coupled set of first-order differential equations by use of the transfer matrix. Once the transfer matrix has been determined by numerical integration of the equations, the natural frequencies (the eigenvalues) and the mode shapes are calculated in terms of the elements of the matrix for a given set of boundary conditions. This method is applied to arcs with linearly, parabolically and exponentially varying cross-section, and the effects of the varying cross-section and slenderness on the free vibrations of the arcs are studied.