Summary
In this study the problem of the dynamic characteristics of a structurally presstressed beam under compressive axial force and subjected to accelerating loads is investigated. A procedure based on Galerkin's residual method, asymptotic method of struble, and integral transformation method is developed to solve the fourth‐order partial differential equation with variable and singular coefficients governing the dynamic behavior exhibited by the beam‐mass system. The proposed solution procedure is very versatile and is suitable for handling moving mass beam problem for all pertinent boundary conditions. The theory and analysis proposed in this work are illustrated by various practical examples often encounter in engineering design and practice. Analytical solutions valid for all variants of classical boundary conditions are obtained for the beam‐load system. The effects of the traveling velocity of the moving mass, span length, and flexural rigidity on the response of the beam are investigated. A comparative analysis of the behavior of this structural member under accelerating, decelerating, and uniform velocity type of motion is performed. Various results in plotted curves are presented.