Dynamic Characteristics of Layered Beam with Flexible Core

This paper presents an analytical theory to define the dynamic characteristics of a layered beam which is composed of two parallel beams of uniform properties with a flexible core in-between. This flexible core may be made of a kind of viscoelastic material in order to achieve a high shock-absorbing performance. The dynamic interactions between these two parallel beams are especially studied. The dynamic shape functions and the dynamic stiffness matrix of a layered-beam element are established based on the analytical model of two parallel damped Timoshenko beams, connected to each other by the vertical springs and dashpots uniformly distributed along the beam length. Some simple layered beams are employed as the application examples for demonstrations and discussions.