Abstract :
This paper presents the theory regarding a moving distributed mass element, so that the dynamic responses
of a rectangular plate subjected to a moving distributed mass, with the effects of inertia force, Coriolis
force and centrifugal force considered, can be easily determined. In which, the property matrices of the
moving distributed mass element are derived by means of the principle of superposition and the definition
of shape functions, and the overall property matrices of the entire vibrating system are determined from
the combination of the last element property matrices of the moving distributed mass element and those
of the plate itself. Since the property matrices of the moving distributed mass element have something
to do with the instantaneous position and the distribution of the moving mass, they are time-dependent
and so are the overall property matrices of the entire vibrating system. Based on the last concept, the
equations of motion for a rectangular plate subjected to a moving distributed mass are established and
solved to yield the dynamic responses of the entire vibrating system. Numerical results reveal that the
factors such as the contact area (between the moving distributed mass and the plate), moving-load speed,
inertia force, Coriolis force and centrifugal force affect the vibration characteristics of the plate to some
degree. Copyright q 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Keywords :
Dynamic responses , Finite element method , property matrices , moving distributed mass element , moving load
