Vibration analysis of Multi-cracked axially loaded Timoshenko beam structures

A method is presented to predict the effect of multiple cracks on the dynamic response of an axially loaded coupled bending-torsional Timoshenko beam structures, using an exact member theory. The issue of multiple cracks in beam elements and their interaction is central in understanding the overall fracture behaviour of cracked structures. The changes introduced by the presence of two cracks, regarding the magnitude of natural frequencies of a structure, as well as its modal response, are investigated. A parametric study of two transverse open cracks has been carried out for various crack parameters such as crack depth and crack location. Various kinds of cracking behaviours are obtained and discussed, focusing on the crack interactions.