World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology 61 2012

Applied and Theoretical Cantilever Beam

Free Vibration Analysis
S.Mohammadi, A.Hassanirad

Islamic Azad University ± South Tehran Branch

s_mohammadi@azad.ac.ir st_a_hassanirad@azad.ac.ir

Abstract² Free vibration analysis is one of the fundamental By subjecting a point load P, assuming that the beam
point in vibration design. Most of the time, engineers are using undergoes small deflection and it is in the linear elastic region
cantilever beam as a simple model instead of complicated system. and has a uniform cross-section, the beam will deflect into a
Therefore, in order to get familiar with this simplifying, we discuss curve.
the theoretical analysis of cantilever beam. We introduce two
vibration measuring systems, accelerometer and RFID. As we know
The Below equation relates the curvature of the beam to
that RFID is easy to use and with respect to its price, we conclude
that using RFID is more beneficial than using accelerometer. the bending moment at each section of the beam
Keywords²Cantilever beam, Free vibration, RFID. (1)

I. INTRODUCTION

V IBRATION analysis is very important for constructions. It

helps us to predict the behaviour of structure under
different load distribution [1]. In order to analyse the
The Equation (1) is based on the assumptions that the material
is homogeneous, isotropic, and obeys Hooke's law and the
vibrations of construction, we can use a cantilever beam beam is straight and of uniform cross section. This equation is
instead of the construction itself. Therefor the process of valid for small deflection only and for beams that are long
analysing is simplified. compared to cross sectional dimensions since the effects of
Using cantilever beam is just one the numerous methods shear deflection are neglected.
for analysing the vibration of unknown systems. In 2001 C. A. Consider a cantilever beam; it is subjected to a point load P
Rossit and P. A. A. Laura analyzed free vibration of cantilever therefore the beam will deflect into a curve.
beam with spring-mass system [2]. Analysis of cantilever beam
according to free and forced vibration is done by Sadettin
Orhan in 2007 [3]. Another analysis conducted by Zhi-cheng
Qiu, Hong-xin Wu and Chun-de Ye in 2009 which is done by
accelerators. Of course they used cantilever plate instead of
cantilever beam [4]. They analyse the cantilever plate by
experimental research and found the modes of active vibration
control.
Fig.2 Cantilever beam deflect into a Curve
II. THEORY ANALYSIS
A beam which is fixed at one end and free at the other end is When the force, P, is removed from a displaced beam, it will
known as cantilever beam [5]. Such a beam is shown in Figure return to its original shape. However inertia of the beam will
1. make the beam to vibrate around its initial location. The
equation of the beam is

(2)

Fig.1 Cantilever beam

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Where is the linear mass density of the beam. The (7)

solution of this equation, if EI is constant, is to separate the
variables, one depends on position and another on time.

(3)
Equation 7 reduces to
(8)
By substituting Eq. (3) to Eq. (2), and simplifying it, the
Equation (3) Becomes:
(4)
Since has infinite values, also has infinite values. In
other words, the system has infinite frequency. This is because
the system is continuous and all continuous systems have
infinite number of frequencies.
Equation (4) can be written as two separate differential The values of which satisfy Equation (8) can be found by
equations: consulting tables of hyperbolic and trigonometric functions
(4, a) [6].

n
(4, b) 1 1.87510
2 4.69409
3 7.85475
Where 4 10.99554
(5) 5 14.13716

Table.1 Values of

Therefor with respect to these result, we can calculate the

In finding the solutions of (4, a), it is convenient to write the frequency for each situation.
equation in the following form:
III. ACCELEROMETER
(6) The relative displacement amplitude is directly proportional to
the acceleration amplitude of the sinusoidal vibration being
measured. The following equation shows it [6].
In order to solve Equation (6), the following boundary (9)
conditions for cantilever beam are needed:

Therefore, accelerometer can be a choice for detecting and

measuring the vibration of a structure or even a cantilever
beam.

IV. RFID
By substituting boundary conditions into we RFID is just one of the numerous technologies which grouped
obtain the following: under the term of Automatic Identification (Auto ID), such as
bar code, magnetic inks, optical character recognition, voice
recognition, touch memory, smart cards, biometrics etc. Auto
ID technologies are a new way of controlling information and
material flow, especially suitable for large production
networks.
The RFID technology is a means of gathering data about a
certain item without the need of touching or seeing the data
Then we divide the last two results which it leads to equation carrier, through the use of inductive coupling or
7. electromagnetic waves. The data carrier is a microchip
attached to an antenna (together called transponder or tag), the
latter enabling the chip to transmit information to a reader (or

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transceiver) within a given range, which can forward the Read-only

information to a host computer. The middleware (software for x The memory is factory programmed and can't be
reading and writing tags) and the tag can be enhanced by data modified after its manufacture
encryption for security-critical application at an extra cost, and x Its data is static
anti-collision algorithms may be implemented for the tags if x A very limited quantity of data can be stored, usually
several of them are to be read simultaneously. [7] 96 bits of information
RFIDs can be categorized with respect to their frequency x Can be easily integrated with data collection systems
ranges. Some of the most commonly used RFID kits are shown x Typically are cheaper than read-write tags
in the following: Read-write
1) Low-frequency (30 KHz to 500 KHz) x Can be read as well as written into
2) Mid-Frequency (900 KHz to 1500MHz) x Its data can be dynamically altered
3) High Frequency (2.4 GHz to 2.5GHz) x Can store a larger amount of data, typically ranging
from 32 Kbytes to 128 Kbytes
An RFID tag is comprised of a microchip that identifying
information and an antenna which transmits this data x Its more expensive than read-only chips [8]
wirelessly to a reader. At its most basic, the chip will contain a
serialized identifier, or license plate number, that uniquely V. ANALYSING LARGE DISPLACEMENT
identifies that item, similar to the way many bar codes are used
To analyse a cantilever beam, we can use RFID, but in
today. However a key difference is that RFID tags have a
structures, displacements are too small and RFID itself, can't
higher data capacity than their bar code counterparts. This
detect the frequencies. Thus we need another device. In this
increases the options for the type of information that can be
case, using a Dynamic Undamped Absorbers is a suggestion.
encoded on the tag, including the manufacturer, batch or lot
When we attach the dynamic undamped absorbers on
number, weight, ownership, destination and history (such as
cantilever beam, we increase the amplitude of the vibration,
the temperature range to which an item has been exposed). In
and then the displacement could be recognizable for RFID.
fact, an unlimited list of other types of information can be
Therefore, by attaching the RFID on the spring-mass system
stored on RFID tags, depending on application needs.
which is attached to the cantilever beam, the RFID can detect
RFID tags and readers can be grouped under a number of
the frequencies.
categories.
The following schemes show that an undamped absorber mass
could increase the displacement in order to be recognized by
Passive
RFID.
x $OVR FDOOHG µSXUH SDVVLYH¶ µUHIOHFWLYH¶ RU µEHDP
SRZHUHG¶
x Obtains operating power from the reader
x The reader sends electromagnetic waves that induce
FXUUHQW LQ WKH WDJ¶V DQWHQQD WKH WDJ UHIOHFWV WKH
transmitted radio frequency signal and adds
information by modulating the reflected signal

Semi-passive
x Uses a battery to maintain memory in the tag or power
the electronics that enable the tag to modulate the
reflected signal
x Communicates in the same method, as the other
passive tags

Active
x Powered by an internal battery, used to run the
PLFURFKLS¶VFLUFXLWU\DQGWREURDGFDVWDVLJQDOWRWKH
reader
x Generally ensures a longer read range than passive tags
x More expensive than passive tags Fig3. Schemes and responses of undamped mass
x The batteries must be replaced periodically
We can classify the RFID Tags by Memory Type:
VI. ATTACHMENT OF MEASURING SYSTEM ON CANTILEVER
BEAM
By attaching and RFID device or accelerometer on spring-
mass system which is fixed at the free end of a cantilever

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beam, we can analyse the vibration, with respect to the results VII. CONCLUSION
of RFID's records. After the simulation of a cantilever beam, instead of a
Consider that we attached an RFID tag on a cantilever construction, we have to analyse the vibration specifications
beam. by using measurement systems.
Tag We recognize that in order to measure and analyse the free
vibration of a cantilever beam, using an RFID could be more
m helpful than the accelerometer. To prove this idea, we focus on
three key points here:
Cantilever beam 1. Using an RFID is easier.
2. RFID simplify our analyse process.
3. RFID is cheaper than accelerometer
Fig4. RFID Attached on cantilever beam After the analysis, we can comparison the result with the
natural frequencies of the structure and it leads to some
During the free vibration of a cantilever beam, the RFID starts information about the construction.
to send signal.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
One of us (A.H) would like to thank Scott Whitney and GEO-
SlOPE International LTD for their notes on paper's subject.

REFERENCES
[1] Govardhana Rao, Vibration Analysis of Structures (Thesis), iNational
Institute of Technology Rourkela, 2009.
[2] C. A. Rossit, P. A. A., Free vibrations of a cantilever beam with a
spring-mass system attached to the free end, Ocean Engineering,
Volume 28, Issue 7, July 2001, Pages 933-939.
[3] Sadetting Orhan, Analysis of free and forced vibration of a cracked
cantilever beam, NDT & E International, Volume 40, Issue 6,
Fig5. System schemes September 2007, Pages 443-450.
[4] Zhi-cheng Qiu, Hong-xin Wu, Chun-de Ye, Experimental researches on
By receiving the signals that define the displacement, we can sliding mode active vibration control of flexible cantilever olate
calculate the velocity. integrated gyroscope. Thin-Walled Structures, Volume 47, Issues 8-9,
August-September 2009, Pages 836-846.
(10) [5] R.K. Bansal, 2001, A Text Book of Strength of Material, Firewall
Media. Page 155.
[6] Cyril M.Harris, Allian G.Piersol. Harris' Shock and Vibration Handbook
fifth edition, Mcgraw-Hill, 2009.
[7] :DQW5³An Introduction to RFID Technology´Pervasive computing,
2006.
[8] Zudor E., Kemeny Z., Egri P., Monostori / ³The RFID Technology
Then we can calculate the cantilever beam frequency with the and Its Current Application´ Industrial Enterprises-MITIP 2006.
following instructions.

Fig6. Cantilever beam frequency calculation.

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