Dynamics of axially accelerating beams with multiple supports

This study represents the transverse vibrations of an axially accelerating Euler-Bernoulli beam resting on multiple simple supports. This is one of the examples of a system experiencing Coriolis acceleration component that renders such systems gyroscopic. A small harmonic variation with a constant mean value for the axial velocity is assumed in the problem. The immovable supports introduce nonlinear terms to the equations of motion due to stretching of neutral axis. The method of multiple scales is directly applied to the equations of motion obtained for the general case. Natural frequency equations are presented for multiple support case. Principal parametric resonances and combination resonances are discussed. Solvability conditions are presented for different cases. Stability analysis is conducted for the solutions; approximate stable and unstable regions are identified. Some numerical examples are presented to show the effects of axial speed, number of supports, and their locations.