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In structural dynamics, a moving load changes the point at which the load is applied over time.[ citation needed ] Examples include a vehicle that travels across a bridge[ citation needed ] and a train moving along a track.[ citation needed ]
In computational models, load is usually applied as
Numerous historical reviews of the moving load problem exist. [1] [2] Several publications deal with similar problems. [3]
The fundamental monograph is devoted to massless loads. [4] Inertial load in numerical models is described in [5]
Unexpected property of differential equations that govern the motion of the mass particle travelling on the string, Timoshenko beam, and Mindlin plate is described in. [6] It is the discontinuity of the mass trajectory near the end of the span (well visible in string at the speed v=0.5c).[ citation needed ] The moving load significantly increases displacements.[ citation needed ] The critical velocity, at which the growth of displacements is the maximum, must be taken into account in engineering projects.[ citation needed ]
Structures that carry moving loads can have finite dimensions or can be infinite and supported periodically or placed on the elastic foundation.[ citation needed ]
Consider simply supported string of the length l, cross-sectional area A, mass density ρ, tensile force N, subjected to a constant force P moving with constant velocity v. The motion equation of the string under the moving force has a form[ citation needed ]
Displacements of any point of the simply supported string is given by the sinus series[ citation needed ]
where
and the natural circular frequency of the string
In the case of inertial moving load, the analytical solutions are unknown.[ citation needed ] The equation of motion is increased by the term related to the inertia of the moving load. A concentrated mass m accompanied by a point force P:[ citation needed ]
The last term, because of complexity of computations, is often neglected by engineers.[ citation needed ] The load influence is reduced to the massless load term.[ citation needed ] Sometimes the oscillator is placed in the contact point.[ citation needed ] Such approaches are acceptable only in low range of the travelling load velocity.[ citation needed ] In higher ranges both the amplitude and the frequency of vibrations differ significantly in the case of both types of a load.[ citation needed ]
The differential equation can be solved in a semi-analytical way only for simple problems.[ citation needed ] The series determining the solution converges well and 2-3 terms are sufficient in practice.[ citation needed ] More complex problems can be solved by the finite element method [ citation needed ] or space-time finite element method.[ citation needed ]
The discontinuity of the mass trajectory is also well visible in the Timoshenko beam.[ citation needed ] High shear stiffness emphasizes the phenomenon.[ citation needed ]
Consider a massless string, which is a particular case of moving inertial load problem. The first to solve the problem was Smith. [7] The analysis will follow the solution of Fryba. [4] Assuming ρ=0, the equation of motion of a string under a moving mass can be put into the following form[ citation needed ]
We impose simply-supported boundary conditions and zero initial conditions.[ citation needed ] To solve this equation we use the convolution property.[ citation needed ] We assume dimensionless displacements of the string y and dimensionless time τ:[ citation needed ]
where wst is the static deflection in the middle of the string. The solution is given by a sum
where α is the dimensionless parameters :
Parameters a, b and c are given below
In the case of α=1, the considered problem has a closed solution:[ citation needed ]