Vibration Characteristics of Various Wide Flange Steel Beams and Columns

Abstract

Abstract: Vibration characteristics of steel framed structures are affected by accurate modelling of the mass and stiffness matrices of beam and column members. In this regards, wide flange sections are the most popularly used steel sections, and calculation of axial, flexural and shear responses of these sections become critical. In this study, a mixed formulation frame finite element is developed from three-fields Hu-Washizu-Barr functional. Consistent mass matrix of the element is obtained such that determination of vibration frequencies of members with varying geometry and material distribution is modelled without any need for specification of different displacement shape functions for each individual case. An accurate shear correction coefficient for wide flange I and H sections is taken into account in order to get closer match with exact solutions. Comparative study is undertaken by the use of proposed beam finite element solutions and 3 dimensional solid finite element analyses in ANSYS. Results indicate that proposed beam finite element can get fundamental and higher modes of vibration for varying aspect ratios of wide flange beams and columns.