Effects of dead loads on dynamic analyses of beams subject to moving loads

The effect of dead loads on dynamic responses of a uniform elastic beam subjected to moving loads is examined by means of a governing equation which takes into account initial bending stresses due to dead loads. First, the governing equation of beams which includes the effect of dead loads is briefly presented from the author's paper (1990, 1991, 2010). The effect of dead loads is considered by a strain energy produced by conservative initial stresses caused by the dead loads. Second, the effect of dead loads on dynamical responses produced by moving loads in simply supported beams is confirmed by the results of numerical computations using the Galerkin method and Wilson-theta method. It is shown that the dynamical responses by moving loads are decreased remarkably on a heavyweight beam when the effect of dead loads is included. Third, an approximate solution of dynamic deflections including the effect of dead loads for a uniform beam subjected to moving loads is presented in a closed-form for the case without the additional mass due to moving loads. The proposed solution shows a good agreement with results of numerical computations with the Galerkin method and Wilson-theta method. Finally it is clarified that the effect of dead loads on elastic uniform beams subjected to moving loads acts on the restraint of the transverse vibration for the both cases without and with the additional mass due to moving loads.