Critical Stability of a Hinged Beam With Dynamic Moment: With and Without External Flow

Abstract

The stability characteristics of a hinged beam subjected to a dynamic moment is investigated. The moment is proportional to the curvature of the beam at some point along its length. The stability investigations are carried out using a Galerkin approximation, both in the presence and absence of external flow. In the absence of external flow, stability is lost through divergence and flutter depending on the location of the point of measurement of curvature and the sign of the applied moment. In the presence of external flow, additional terms are introduced in the dynamic model. This alters the mechanism of flutter, reduces the value of the parameter at the critical point, and changes the nature of oscillations from standing waves to traveling waves.