A contact element for dynamic analysis of beams to a moving oscillator on tensionless elastic foundation

This paper presents the contact elements for dynamic analysis of Euler–Bernoulli beams to a moving oscillator on tensionless elastic foundation considering discontinuous contact. The elastic foundation is modeled by linear elastic springs accounting for discontinuous contact between the beam and foundation. Three types of contact element including a full-bonded element, full-unbonded element and half-bonded element in finite element method expressing the relation displacement between the beam and foundation are suggested in this paper. The contact force of the beam and foundation during vibration as external force of the beam is established by the elastic foundation’s reaction distributed per length of the element. The governing equations of motion are derived by means of finite element method and solved by Newmark’s time integration procedure in the time domain. The effects of the discontinuous contact phenomenon due to tensionless foundation on dynamic responses of the beam are discussed. The comparisons between present solution and ordinary solution with continuous contact show that the dynamic responses of the beam are quite different and increasing than those of the ordinary solution.