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This paper deals with the linear natural vibrations analysis of beams where the geometric and material properties vary periodically along the beam axis. In contrast with homogeneous prismatic beams, the frequency spectra of such beams are irregular as there exist enlarged intervals between some adjacent frequencies. Presented here are two averaged models of beams based on the tolerance modelling approach. The assumptions of classical Euler–Bernoulli and Timoshenko–Ehrenfest beam theories are adopted as the foundations. The resulting mathematical models are systems of differential equations with constant, weight-averaged coefficients. This makes it possible to apply any classical method of solution suitable for homogeneous beams, such as Galerkin orthogonalization. Here, emphasis is placed on the comparison of natural frequencies neighbouring the frequency band-gaps that are obtained from these two theories. Two basic cases of material and geometric property distribution in a periodicity cell are studied, and the natural frequencies and mode shapes are obtained for a simply supported beam. The results are supported by a comparison with the finite element method and partially exact solutions.

In this paper a stability analysis of microperiodic beams resting on the periodic inhomogeneous foundation is carried out. The main issue of this considerations, which is the analytical solution to the governing equations characterised by periodic, highly oscillating and non-continuous coefficients, is overwhelmed by the application of the tolerance averaging technique. As a result of such application, the governing equation is transformed into a form with constant coefficients which can be solved using well-known mathematical methods. In several calculation examples, the convergence of the results of two derived averaged models is examined, as well as the convergence of the lowest value of the critical force parameter derived from the averaged models with the FEM model. The results prove the superiority of the presented analytical solution over the FEM analysis in the optimisation process.

The mathematical modelling of certain problems of vibrations and stability for periodic slender visco-elastic beams is presented in this note. To consider these problems and take into account the effect of the microstructure, the tolerance modelling approach is proposed. Using this technique, the equation with non-continuous, periodic, highly oscillating coefficients is replaced by a system of differential equations with constant coefficients. Moreover, these governing equations describe the effect of the microstructure on the overall behavior of the beams under consideration. The tolerance modelling can lead to equations of two different tolerance models&mdash, the standard and the general, under weakened assumptions. This averaging tolerance method was assessed by comparison with the asymptotic homogenization, the governing equations of which omit this effect. My considerations were limited to proposing and presenting only mathematical models describing investigated beams. In a simple analytical example, the application of the presented average models is shown.