Well-posedness of the equations governing the motions of a one-dimensional hybrid thermo-elastic structure

In this paper a model for the vibrations of a one-dimensional hybrid thermo-elastic structure consisting of an extensible thermo-elastic beam which is hinged at one end, with a rigid body attached to its free end, is studied with a view to establishing the existence of a unique solution in a weak sense. The model takes account of the effect of stretching on bending and rotational inertia. By treating eigenvalue problems with the spectral parameter also in the boundary conditions, we are able to employ the method of Faedo-Galerkin approximations. Copyright (C) 2004 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.