Experimental and theoretical investigation of static deflection and natural frequency of stepped cantilever beam

ABSTRACT

A maximum static deflection and natural frequency of aluminium cantilever stepped beam (two steps) were investigated experimentally and theoretically for different values of small and large diameters and for different lengths of larger diameter step. Eighty samples of aluminium beams were manufactured using turning machine. The range of the beam diameter was 12–20 mm and the length of beam was 45 cm. Classical Rayleigh method, modified Rayleigh method and finite element using ANSYS software method were adopted to calculate the maximum static deflection and the natural frequency. A good agreement was found for the static deflection at different positions of applied load between the experimental results and the theoretical results, ANSYS and modified Rayleigh method. The experimental results of the natural frequency showed that there was a consistent with the theoretical results particularly when there is a minor difference between the larger and smaller diameters of the stepped beam.

KEYWORDS:

• Stepped beam
• static deflection
• natural frequency
• ANSYS software
• Rayleigh method
• modified Rayleigh method

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Abbas Ali Diwan

Abbas Ali Diwan is an Iraqi doctor in mechanical engineering. He is working as a researcher in the Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials Research Unit (NAMRU) in the faculty of Engineering, Kufa University. He works as a lecturer in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, also he works in the Nanocomposite materials field, Nano coating, vibration analysis. He is a technician in X-ray, AFM and TEM devices.

Luay S. Al-Ansari

Luay S. Al-Ansari is a Iraqi assistant Professor in Mechanical Engineering department, Faculty of Engineering. He is working on composite materials, Nanomaterial, vibration and Finite element method.

Ali A. Al-Saffar

Ali A. Al-Saffar has a Phd degree in Mechanical Engineering, he is a lecturere in department of mechanical engineering at University of Kufa. He is a member in the Kufa Simulation Lab (KSL). He is giving lectures in Tribology and Bio-Tribology for the MSc degree students.

Qusay S. Al-Anssari

Qusay S. Al-anssari has a BSc degree in Engineering. He works at Electricity Distribution  Branch in Najaf Governorate, General Electricity Distribution Company, Najaf, Iraq. At the moment he is a manager of the maintenance office in Najaf City.