Continuous model for flexural vibration analysis of a Timoshenko cracked beam

In this paper, a continuous model for vibration analysis of a beam with an open edge crack including the effects of shear deformation and rotary inertia is presented. A displacement field is suggested for the beam and the strain, and stress fields are calculated. The governing equation of motion for the beam has been obtained using Hamilton’s principle. The equation of motion is solved with a modified Galerkin method and the natural frequencies and mode shapes are obtained. A good agreement has been observed between the results of this research and the results of previous work done in this fiels. The results are also compared to results of a similar model with Euler-Bernoulli assumptions to confirm the advantages of the proposed model in the case of short beams.