Journal ofSound and Vibration (1984) 97(3), 513-521

VIBRATION FREQUENCIES FOR A NON-UNIFORM

BEAM WITH END MASS

J. H. LAU

Hewlett-Packard Laboratories, Palo Alto, California 94303, U.S.A.

(Received 24 December 1982, and in revised form 20 March 1984)

This study deals with the determination of natural frequencies of a non-uniform can-
tilever beam which carries a concentrated mass at the free end. The effect of the rotatory
inertia of the end mass has been included. Numerical results for the first five eigenfrequen-
ties are presented for a wide range of values of the beam dimensions and the concentrated
mass.

1. INTRODUCTION

Eigenfrequencies for tapered bars having various combinations of classical boundary

conditions (free, clamped and simply supported) have been provided by Conway, Becker,
and Dubil [ 1,2]. Vibrations of non-uniform beams with non-classical boundary conditions
such as a spring and an end mass have been studied recently. Lee [3] obtained the
foundamental frequency of a beam which is hinged at one end by a rotational spring and
has a mass with a rotatory inertia attached at the other free end. Goel[4] provided results
for the first and second eigenfrequencies of a cantilever beam of equal taper in both
planes, elastically restrained at one end and with a concentrated mass at the free end.
The effect of the rotatory inertia of the concentrated mass was disregarded. Vibrations
of cantilevered tapered beams with rotatory inertia of the end mass and overhang were
rigorously considered by Scerbo and Pan [5,6]. Symbolic functions [7] were applied and
experimental verification of the eigenvalues was also obtained. Since the cross-sectional
area of the beam was assumed to be (see Figure 1) A(x) = (x/L,)A, and I(x) = (x/L,)‘Z,,
the general solution of the equation of motion contains Bessel functions of first order.
In the present study, Conway’s results for a cantilever beam are extended to include
a concentrated mass at the free end. The effect of the rotatory inertia of the end mass is
also included. Since the cross-sectional area of the beam is assumed to be (see Figure 1)

Figure I. Tapered beam with end mass.

513
0022460X/84/230513 +09 %03.00/O @ 1984 Academic Press Inc. (London) Limited
514 J. H. LAU

A(x)=(x/L,)*A, and I(x) =(x/L,)~Z,, the general solution of the equation of motion
contains Bessel functions of second order. Numerical values for the first five eigenfrequen-
ties are presented in tabular form for a wide range of values of the beam dimensions
and the concentrated mass. The results provided herein may be applied to beams with
solid or hollow rectangular and circular cross sections.

2. ANALYSIS

The partial differential equation governing the motion for small amplitude, free trans-
verse vibrations of the beam shown in Figure 1 is

[El(x)u”]“+ m(x)ti = 0, (1)

where E is Young’s modulus, I is the second moment of cross-sectional area, 21is the
transverse displacement, m is the mass per unit length of the beam, (‘) = a/ax and (‘) = a/at.
The boundary conditions are as follows:

at x = L,, EZ(x)v” = Ji;‘, (El(x)u”)‘= -MC; (233)

at x= L,, v = 0, u’= 0. (4,5)

Here A4 is the concentrated mass, and J is the mass moment of inertia of the end mass.
Using the standard method of separation of variables one assumes

v(x, t) = V(x) T( t). (6)

Then equation (1) leads to two ordinary differential equations,

f+p’T=O, [El(x)V”l”-m(x)p2V=O. (738)

The boundary conditions become,

at x = L,, El(x) V” = -p2JV’, [El(x) V”]’= p2MV; (9, 10)

atx=L,, v=o, V’= 0. (11912)

Here p is the radian frequency of vibration.

For the structural system under consideration (see Figure 1)

A(x) = (xlW2A,, I(x) = (xIL1)411, (13,14)

where A, and I, are, respectively, the cross-sectional area and the second moment of the
cross-sectional area at x = L,. It is convenient to introduce a new variable y defined by
(see Figure 2)
y=xfL,. (15)

Then equations (8)-( 12) become as follows:

( l/y’)(d2/dy2)(y4 d’V/dy*) - q4V= 0; (16)

aty=yo=LoILI, d2V/dy2= -.&q”[( 1 - ~~)~/y:] dV/dy; (17)

(d/dy)(y4 d2V/dy2) = tiq4( 1 - yO) V; (18)
aty=l, v=o, dV/dy =O; (19,20)

q4 = PA,L:P*/EI,, lb? = M/pA,L, J=J/pA,L3. (21-23)

p is the mass density of the beam.

The general solution of equation (16) is

V=y-‘[C,J~(z)+C2Y2(z)+C,12(z)+C4K,(z)],z=2q~jk (24,25)
 NON-UNIFORM BEAM WITH END MASS 515

Figure 2. Dimensionless co-ordinate for tapered beam.

In equation (24) Jz and Y, are the second order Bessel functions of first and second kind,
respectively, while I2 and I& are the modified Bessel functions of second order and of
first and second kind, respectively [8].
Substituting equation (24) in equations (17)-(20) results in the following frequency
determinant equation:

all aI2 aI3 a14

=21 az2 a23 a24

I,(b) K,(b) =O’

(26)
J,(b) Y,(b)

J,(b) Y,(b) -I,(b) K,(b)

a,, = J4(d-.hU -y0)1’y;“‘J3(a), a I2 = Y,(a) --ml -Yo)13Y;3’5y3(a),

a13 = I,(d+-%l(l -J’o)]3J’;3’513(a), a14 = h(a) -.b(l -Y~)I~YO~~~K~(.),

a21 = J,(a) - &(I -Y,)Y,~.~J~(~L a22 = y,(a) - li;rs(l -yo)yiF5Y2(a),

az3 = 13(a) - Gq( 1 -~~)y;~‘~I,(a), a24= -K,(+rC;l(l -yo)~,~‘~K2(uL

a = 2qJG, b=2q. (27)

Equation (26) degenerates to the clamped-free case of references [ 1,2], if A? = j= 0, and

approaches to the clamped-clamped case if A? = J+ co.

3. NUMERICAL RESULTS

To find the roots of equation (26), the Bessel functions were replaced by their approxi-
mate polynomial equivalents [9], and the roots were then found by using the method of
successive bisection with E = lo-’ [lo]. In order to initiate the iterative process, the roots
were first bracketed by means of a straight search process.
Once the roots have been obtained, the frequency of the structural system can be
determined by equation (21) as

f = (Q2/27rL2)~, (28)

where the frequency parameter, Q = q( 1 - y,), for a wide range of values of beam
dimensions and concentrated mass, is shown in Tables l-6.
516 .I.
H. LAIJ

TABLE 1.1

ValuesofQforA?=Oand_i=O

Mode

Yo 1 2 3 4 5

0.1 2.684189 4.322055 6.092932 7.968996 9.907861

0.3 2.347181 4.317541 6.542966 8.861199 Il.222747
0.5 2.150616 4.421268 6.969857 9.581898 12.222516
o-7 2.016664 4.533818 7.349502 10.196823 13.060525
0.9 I.916690 4.642225 7.693415 10.742334 13.796986

TABLE 1.2

Values of Q for li? = 0 and .i = 0.2

Mode

Yo 1 2 3 4 5

0.1 0.340949 2.701484 4.403805 6.248616 8.184286

0.3 0.734340 2466403 4.606880 6.921645 9.293 145
0.5 I.012769 2.391678 4.878800 7.495635 lo.145609
0.7 1.216366 2.395572 5.142082 7.992295 IO.861544
0.9 1.356166 2.458360 5.392290 8.436259 I I.491370

TABLE 1.3
ValuesofQforJL?=OandJ=l

Mode

Yo 1 2 3 4 5

0.1 0.228008 2.701480 4.403802 6.248614 8.184286

0.3 0.491276 2.465578 4.606680 6.921581 9.293117
0.5 0.679765 2.383710 4.877563 7.495286 lo.145467
0.7 O-825084 2.363985 5.138226 7.991270 10.861135
0.9 0.939596 2,377705 5.383531 8.434012 I 1.490482

TABLE 1.4

ValuesofQforh?=Oand_i=lO

Mode

Yo 1 2 3 4 5

0.1 0.128218 2.701480 4.403802 6.248614 8.184286

0.3 0.276289 2.465393 4.606635 6.921566 9.293112
0.5 O-382569 2.381919 4.877266 7.495196 lo.145426
0.7 O-465419 2.357170 5.137362 7.991040 lo.861042
0.9 0.532530 2.360222 5.381571 8.433508 Il.490282
 NON-UNIFORM BEAM WITH END MASS 517

TABLE 2.1
Values of Q for fi = 0.2 and I= 0.2

Mode

YO I 2 3 4 5

0.1 0.340700 1.213410 3.294957 5.319258 7.358478

0.3 0.72875 1 1.635641 3.8 16479 6.174222 8.578640
0.5 0.991617 I.887760 4.27 1940 6.846778 9.486867
0.7 I.172381 2.090867 4.677661 7.439515 10.267630
0.9 1.291204 2.28 1966 5.037529 7.9745 17 10.969274

TABLE 2.2

ValuesofQforb?=0+2 and_i=0*5

Mode

YO 1 2 3 4 5

0.1 0.27 1069 1.212879 3.294941 5.319255 7.358477

0.3 0.582414 1.627928 3.815862 6.174078 8.578587
0.5 0.800983 1.860099 4.269113 6.846080 9.486603
0.7 0.963383 2.027310 4.670679 7.437692 10.26692 1
0.9 1.084427 2.167949 5.024386 7.970967 10.967854

TABLE 2.3
Values of Q for M = 0.2 and J= 1

Mode

Yo 1 2 3 4 5

0.1 0.221974 1.212702 3.294936 5.319253 7.358477

o-3 o-490540 1.625414 3.815657 6.174028 8.578568
0.5 O-676974 1.851174 4.268173 6.845847 9.486515
0.7 O-819005 2.006524 4,668362 7.437085 IO.266686
0.9 0.929573 2.129041 5.020026 7.969786 10.967382

TABLE 2.4

Values of Qfor h?=0*2 and.i= 10

Mode

Yo 1 2 3 4 5

0.1 0.128216 I.212545 3.294933 5.319251 7.358477

0.3 0.276247 I.623175 3.815472 6.173986 8.578552
0.5 0.382412 I.843286 4.267329 6.845638 9.486436
0.7 0.465077 1.988143 4.666280 7.436540 10.266473
o-9 0.531955 2.094208 5.016110 7.968725 10.966956
518 J. H. I_All

TABLE 3.1
Values of QforM= 1 andJ=0.2

Mode

Yo 1 2 3 4 5

0.1 0.339679 0.818250 3.283639 5.3 14809 7.355953

0.3 0.705177 1.172143 3.741157 6.136517 8.554355
0.5 0.912787 1.485636 4. I 15956 6.750492 9.418903
0.7 1.036927 1.791231 4.456274 7.275736 IO.141825
0.9 1.118498 2.078316 4.777782 7.750216 lo.782847

TABLE 3.2
Values of Qfor fi= 1 andJ=0*5

Mode

Yo 1 2 3 4 5

0.1 0.270748 0.816405 3.283624 5.3 14805 7.355952

0.3 0.575187 1.143071 3.7405 19 6.136372 8.554300
0.5 0.774374 1.393987 4.112702 0.749758 9.418632
0.7 0.910057 1.627055 4.447293 7.273685 lo.141068
0.9 1.005483 1.847228 4.759360 7.745907 lo.781244

TABLE 3.3
ValuesofQforA?=l andJ=l

Mode

Yo 1 2 3 4 5

0.1 0.227840 0.815801 3.283618 5.3 14803 7.355952

0.3 0.487552 1. I34052 3.740306 6.136323 8.554283
0.5 0.665760 1.363864 4.111622 6.749513 9.418541
0.7 0.795370 1.56673 I 4.4443 19 7.273003 lo.140816
0.9 0.892227 1.753223 4.753266 7.744476 IO.780710

TABLE 3.4
Values of Q for It? = 1 and j= 10

Mode

Yo I 2 3 4 5

o-1 0.128209 O-815263 3.283613 5.314802 7.355950

0.3 0.276083 1.126271 3.740117 6.136280 8.554266
0.5 0.381787 I.337801 4.110652 6.749294 9.418460
0.7 0.463709 1.512281 4.441651 7.272389 lo.140589
0.9 0.529668 1.663087 4.747803 7.743 190 lo.780230
 NON-UNIFORM BEAM WITH END MASS 519

TABLE 4.1

Values of Qfor h?= 10 andf=0*2

Mode

YO 2

0.1 0.326032 0.479973 3.281097 5.313804 7.355383

0.3 0.526844 0.890017 3.722640 6.127629 8.5487 16
0.5 0.608940 1,279754 4.070400 6.725408 9.401988
0.7 0.665220 1.632046 4.376188 7.22639 1 10.106994
0.9 0.709014 1.954475 4.659936 7.669729 10.723699

TABLE 4.2

Values of Q for A? = 10 and J= 0.5

Mode

YO 1 2 3 4 5

0.1 0.266852 0.466362 3.281081 5.313801 7.355382

0.3 0.495338 0.752982 3.72 1999 6.127484 8.548661
0.5 0.590500 1.050567 4.067043 6.724667 9.401717
0.7 0.651044 1.329670 4.366554 7.224288 lo.106227
0.9 0.696845 1.589916 4.639195 7.665210 lo.722055

TABLE 4.3

Values of Qfor A%= 10 and.i= 10

Mode

YO I 2 3 4 5

0.1 0.128124 0.4593 10 3.281073 5.3 13799 7.355382

0.3 0.274198 0.643312 3.721594 6.127392 8.548627
0.5 0.3747 12 0.783354 4.064929 6.724198 9.401545
0.7 0448698 0.913819 4.360510 7.222960 lo.105742
0.9 0.505508 1.039863 4.626225 7.66236 1 lo.721015

TABLE 4.4

Values of Qfor A?= 10 and_i= 100

Mode

YO 1 2 3 4 5

0.1 0.072097 0.459008 3.281073 5.313799 7.355382

0.3 0.155254 0.638918 3.721576 6.127386 8.548625
0.5 0.214712 0.768799 4.064829 6.724176 9.401537
0.7 0.260844 0.884033 4.360226 7.222897 10.105719
0.9 0.298086 0.991817 4.625614 7.662226 lo.720966
520 .I. H. L-All

TABLE 5.1

Values ofQ for I\;i= 100 and .i=O*2

Mode

Yo 1 2 3 4 5

0.1 0.229383 0.383676 3.280843 5.313705 7.355327

0.3 0.306885 0.859984 3.720755 6.126732 8.548148
o-5 0.349207 1.257765 4.065578 6.722823 9.400262
0.7 0.380002 1.613359 4.367216 7.221131 10.103354
o-9 0.404676 I.938434 4.645752 7.66075 1 10.717316

TABLE 5.2

ValuesofQfor~=lOOand~=0*5

Mode

0.1 0.221046 0.316639 3.280827 5.3 13701 7.355325

o-3 0.305201 0.687837 3.720114 6.126587 8.548093
0.5 0.348155 1.004279 4.0622 11 6.722081 9.399990
0.7 0.379167 1.289297 4.3575 12 7.219023 10.102586
0.9 0.403945 1.552724 4.624741 7.6562 11 lo.715668

TABLE 5.3
VaZuesofQforA?=lOO andJ=lO

Mode

Yo 1 2 3 4 5

0.1 0.127241 0.260111 3.2808 19 5.313698 7.355323

0.3 0.254110 0.390704 3.7 19709 6.126495 8.548059
0.5 0.3 16200 0.523214 4.06009 1 6.721611 9.399818
0.7 0.354272 0.653601 4.35 1427 7.217691 10~102101
0.9 0.382377 0.778285 4.611610 7.653349 10.714626

TABLE 5.4

ValuesofQfor~=lOOand~=lOO

Mode

0.1 0.072049 0.258320 3.2808 19 5.313698 7.355323

0.3 0.154194 0.36208 1 3.719690 6.126489 8.548057
0.5 0.210735 0.441487 4.05999 1 6.721588 9.399810
0.7 0.252402 0.515931 4.351139 7.217628 10.102078
0.9 0.284482 0.588364 4.610991 7.653214 10.714577
 NON-UNIFORM BEAM WITH END MASS 521

TABLE 6
ValuesofQforfi=J=108

Mode
_
Yo 1 2 3 4 5

O,l 3.280735 5.313659 7.355299 9.403650 I I .457033

0.3 3.719440 6.126369 8.547981 10.972209 13.398469
0.5 4.059415 6.721285 9.399608 12.078504 14.758201
0.7 4.350073 7.217024 lo.101664 12.985906 15.870404
0.9 4.60926 1 7.652184 10.713854 13.774735 16.835673

4. SUMMARY
Based on Euler theory, the first five natural frequencies have been tabulated for a
non-uniform cantilever beam with a mass at the free end. The realiability of the present
results has been verified by checking the clamped-free case, ti = .i = 0, and the clamped-
clamped case, M = J = lo8 with results presented in references [ 1,2], and the cantilever
beam with end mass case with the results presented in references [ 11, 121. The results
reported herein may be useful for several engineering situations: e.g., a mast antenna
structure, and a tower-tank type structure.

REFERENCES
1. H. D. CONWAY, E. C. H. BECKER and J. F. DUBIL 1964 Journal ofApplied Mechanics 31,
329-33 1. Vibration frequencies of tapered bars and circular plates.
2. H. D. CONWAY and J. F. DUBIL 1965 Journal of Applied Mechanics 32, 932-934. Vibration
frequencies of truncated-cone and wedge beams.
3. T. W. LEE 1976 Journal of Applied Mechanics 47, 366-367. Transverse vibrations of a tapered
beam carrying a concentrated mass.
4. R. P. GOEL 1976 Journal of Sound and Vibration 47, 1- 7. Transverse vibrations of tapered beams.
5. L. J. SCERBO 1976 Ph.D. Thesis, Polytechnic institute of New York Wind induced vibration of
self supporting conical columns with end mass.
6. L. J. SCERBO and H. H. PAN 1977 Advances in Civil Engineering Through Engineering Mechanics,
419-422. Wind induced vibrations of columns with end mass.
7. H. H. PAN 1963 Journal of the Franklin Institute 275, 303-313. Some application of symbolic
functions on beam problems.
8. G. N. WATSON 1952 A Treatise on the Theory of Bessel Functions. Cambridge University Press.
9. M. ABRAMOWITZ and I. A. STEGUN 1970 Handbook of Mathematical Functions. New York:
Dover Publications, Inc.
10. T. R. MCCALLA 1967 Introduction to Numerical Methods and FORTRAN Programming. New
York: John Wiley and Sons, Inc.
11. H. H. MABIE and C. B. ROGERS 1974 Journal of the Acoustical Society ofAmerica 55986-991.
Transverse vibrations of double-tapered cantilever beams with end support and with end mass.
12. J. H. LAU 1984 Journal of Applied Mechanics 51, 179- I8 1. Vibration frequencies of tapered
bars with end mass.