An Analytical, Numerical, and Experimental Investigation on Transverse Vibrations of a Finite Locally Resonant Beam

An analytical, numerical, and experimental investigation on the transverse vibrations of a finite beam with periodically arrayed beam-like resonators was carried out. A continuous-discrete model of the finite locally resonant beam was established by employing the "mass-spring- mass" subsystem. The analytical solution of the coupling vibration equations was derived based on the modal superposition method, and the analytical expression of average velocity response and vibration transmissibility were given. Then, the minimum periodic number of different units which could result in a bandgap was determined. Finally, the bandgap of a finite locally resonant beam was confirmed by a vibration experiment on a simply supported beam with twelve uniformly distributed beam-like resonators. The numerical and experimental results show that finite locally resonant beams have low-frequency bandgaps like infinite locally resonant beams, and the bandgap position is close to the resonance frequency of resonators. In addition, for a beam with a different type of locally resonant units, the minimum number of units that can generate the bandgap is nearly the same. Within considered frequency ranges, the experimental results are consistent with the theoretical results, meaning that the transverse vibration in locally resonant beams could be substantially attenuated. The conclusions may be supported to the application of locally resonant theory to control low-frequency vibration and radiation noise.