Abstract
This investigation comprises an experimental and numerical study of elastic wave propagation in angled beams. Axial impact by two strikers of different lengths was applied to three steel beams, each bent to incorporate a “V” section of different angle in the middle. Finite element simulation using ABAQUS was employed to examine details of the elastic waves generated in the impact tests. The numerical results correlated well with experimental data, and computational simulation was utilized to analyse the propagation of energy associated with the elastic waves. This demonstrated that after several reflections from and transmission across the bends energy is progressively smeared throughout the entire beam and does not concentrate at any particular segment; the bulk of the energy is conveyed via flexural waves. Numerical simulation of wave propagation in a beam with a single angle was also undertaken to study the energy associated with waves reflected from and transmitted across the bend, and how these are affected by the bend angle. The effects of input pulse duration, beam thickness and beam material properties on energy reflection and transmission at a bend are also discussed; this leads to the conclusion that when a longitudinal pulse of a particular frequency impinges on a bend, the ratio between its wavelength and the beam thickness governs the energy reflected from and transmitted across the bend. Moreover, the bend junction geometry (curvature) is found to have a significant influence on the energy reflected and transmitted, especially for obtuse bend angles.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Gibson L.J., Ashby M.F.: Cellular Solids: Structure and Properties, 2nd edn. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK (1997)
Reid S.R., Reddy T.Y.: Experimental investigation of inertia effects in one-dimensional metal ring systems subjected to end impact – I. Fixed-ended systems. Int. J. Impact Eng. 1, 85–106 (1983)
Hönig A., Stronge W.J.: In-plane dynamic crushing of honeycomb. Part I: crush band initiation and wave trapping. Int. J. Mech. Sci. 44, 1665–1696 (2002)
Lee J.P., Kolsky H.: The generation of stress pulses at the junction of two noncollinear rods. J. Appl. Mech. 39, 809–813 (1972)
Atkins K.J., Hunter S.C.: The propagation of longitudinal elastic waves around right-angled corners in rods of square cross-section. Q. J. Mech. Appl. Math. 28, 245–260 (1975)
Yong K.H., Atkins K.J.: Generation of elastic stress waves at a corner junction of square rods. J. Sound Vib. 84, 431–441 (1982)
Young K.H., Atkins K.J.: Generation of elastic stress waves at a T-junction of square rods. J. Sound Vib. 88, 431–436 (1983)
Simha K.R.Y., Fourney W.L.: Investigation of stress wave propagation through intersecting bars. ASME J. Appl. Mech. 51, 345–353 (1984)
Doyle J.F., Kamle S.: An experimental study of the reflection and transmission of flexural waves at discontinuities. J. Appl. Mech. 52, 669–673 (1985)
Doyle J.F., Kamle S.: An experimental study of the reflection and transmission of flexural waves at an arbitrary T-joint. J. Appl. Mech. 54, 136–140 (1987)
Desmond T.P.: Theoretical and experimental investigation of stress waves at a junction of three bars. ASME J. Appl. Mech. 48, 148–154 (1981)
Graff K.F.: Wave Motion in Elastic Solids pp. 180–187, pp. 180–187. Clarendon Press, Oxford (1975)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Guo, Y.B., Shim, V.P.W. & Yeo, A.Y.L. Elastic wave and energy propagation in angled beams. Acta Mech 214, 79–94 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00707-010-0317-6
Received:
Revised:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00707-010-0317-6