Modelling a Cracked Beam Structure Using the Finite Element Displacement Method

A new model is presented for studying the effects of crack parameters on the dynamics of a cracked beam structure. The model is established by the finite element displacement method. In particular, the stiffness matrix of the cracked beam element is firstly derived by the displacement method, which does not need the flexibility matrix inversion calculation compared with the previous local flexibility approaches based on the force method. Starting with a finite element model of cracked beam element, the equation of strain energy of a cracked beam element is formed by the displacement method combined with the linear fracture mechanics. Then, based on the finite element method, the dynamic model of the cracked beam structure is obtained. The results show that the dynamic model discovers the internal relation between the dynamic characteristics of cracked beam structure and structural parameters, material parameters, and crack parameters. Finally, an example is presented to validate the proposed dynamic model.