Derivation procedures of exact dynamic stiffness matrices of thin-walled curved beams subjected to axial forces are rigorously presented for the spatial free vibration analysis. An exact dynamic stiffness matrix is established from governing equatio...
Derivation procedures of exact dynamic stiffness matrices of thin-walled curved beams subjected to axial forces are rigorously presented for the spatial free vibration analysis. An exact dynamic stiffness matrix is established from governing equations for a uniform curved beam element with nonsymmetric thin-walled cross section. Firstly this numerical technique is accomplished via a generalized linear eigenvalue problem by introducing 14 displacement parameters and a system of linear algebraic equations with complex matrices. Thus, displacement functions of dispalcement parameters are exactly derived and finally exact stiffness matrices are determined using element force-displacement relationships. The natural frequencies of the nonsymmetric thin-walled curved beam are evaluated and compared with analytical solutions or results by ABAQUS"s shell elements in order to demonstrate the validity of this study.