Advances in dynamic instability: can a beam-column undergo tensile flutter?

Abstract

Tensile instability in beam-like structures has been highlighted in very few papers; the studies reported in the specific literature are limited to beam-columns characterised either by high shear deformation or by the presence of a single structural junction allowing a transversal displacement discontinuity. Moreover, to the authors' knowledge, the flutter instability associated to tensile axial load has not yet been disclosed. This work aims to offer further contribution to the knowledge of tensile instability of beam-columns by considering the dynamic instability of an Euler Bernoulli beam in presence of an arbitrary number of internal sliders endowed with translational elastic springs. The use of the generalised functions allows an exact evaluation of the eigensolution, provided in closed form, both for conservative and nonconservative axial load. In particular, the following relevant question is posed: Can a beam-column undergo tensile flutter instability? A comprehensive parametric analysis conducted in this work gives an affirmative answer to the asked question.

Structural stability enhancement by nonlinear geometry design and piezoelectric layers

“…A pair of piezoelectric patches symmetrically and perfectly bonded to the top and bottom surfaces of a beam subjected to a certain control voltage can generate a pair of axial forces along the same direction at both ends of the patches leading to certain tensile follower-type force and axial strain in the substructure. According to this modeling approach, it has been demonstrated and approved that piezoelectric layers can alter the axial direction load capacity and stability in mechanical structures (Rao and Singh, 2001; Wang and Quek, 2002; Caddemi and Cannizzaro, 2017). The enhancement process and effect can be easily controlled by tuning the control voltage.…”