
683
APPENDIX G
Natural Frequencies and Mode Shapes
of Bars, Shafts, and Strings
In this Appendix, we shall give the governing equations and boundary condi-
tions for the longitudinal oscillations of uniform bars, the torsional oscilla-
tions of uniform circular shafts, and the transverse oscillations of strings
under constant tension. For each of these systems, we shall provide the fre-
quency equations from which the natural frequency coefficients and corre-
sponding mode shapes for several combinations of boundary conditions can
be obtained.
GENERAL SOLUTION FOR THE VIBRATIONS OF BARS, SHAFTS, AND STRINGS
The equations governing the longitudinal vibrations of a uniform bar, a uni-
form circular shaft, and a string under constant tension are given in Table G.1.
It is seen from these equations that the equations for all three systems are of
the form
(G.1)
where, when a bar is being considered, w u(x,t), c f(x,t), a AE, and
b Ar. When a shaft is being considered, w u(x,t), c t(x,t), a JG and
b Jr and when a string is being considered, w y(x,t), c p(x,t), a T
and b Ar. When the externally applied force is absent; that is, c(x,t) 0,
and the system is undergoing harmonic oscillations of the form w(x,t)
£(x)e
jt
, where v is the frequency of oscillation, Eq. (G.1) becomes
(G.2)
where we have introduced the nondimensional quantities given in Table G.1.
When we are considering a bar, then £
a
(h) £
bar
(h) U(h) and ;
2
a
2
bar
d
2
£
a
1h 2
dh
2
2
a
£
a
1h 2 0
a
0
2
w
0x
2
b
0
2
w
0t
2
c1x,t 2