An asymptotic approach to the problem of the free oscillations of a beam

Equations describing the free small longitudinal and transverse oscillations of a straight elastic beam of rectangular cross section are obtained using the plane linear theory of elasticity and the method of integrodifferential relations. The initial system of partial differential equations is reduced to a system of ordinary linear differential equations with constant coefficients. The effect of the geometrical and elastic characteristics of the beam on the frequency and form of the natural oscillations is investigated. For longitudinal motions it is shown that different types of natural displacements and internal stresses of the beam exist. For transverse oscillations, it is found that there are frequency zones corresponding to different forms of the solutions of the characteristic equation obtained using the proposed model.