Free vibration analysis of axially layered functionally graded short beams using experimental and finite element methods

Free vibration behavior of short beams made of axially layered functionally graded material (FGM) was investigated experimentally and numerically. Beams, which have gradation of the material properties in the axial direction, are fabricated by powder metallurgy technique using different weight fractions of aluminum and silicon carbide powders. In order to determine elasticity modulus of axially layered functionally graded (FG) beams, homogeneous beams containing different weight fractions of Al (aluminum) and SiC (silicon carbide) are produced, and these homogeneous beams are subjected to tensile tests. Density of each homogeneous layer is also calculated experimentally. After determination of the mechanical properties of each layer of the FG beams, they are modeled in a finite element program (ANSYS) according to Timoshenko beam theory, and free vibration analyses are performed. Fundamental frequencies of the axially layered FG beams produced are also calculated experimentally. FG beams with clamped-free boundary conditions are considered. Layers of the axially FG beams are considered to have symmetric configurations. Effect of the change in weight fractions of SiC particles and sorting order of layers to fundamental frequency of the beam is investigated. Experimental results obtained are compared with numerical results.