Free Vibration Analysis of Frames Using the Transfer Dynamic Stiffness Matrix Method

A method for free vibration of 3D space frame structures employing transfer dynamic stiffness matrix (TDSM) method based on Euler–Bernoulli beam theory is developed in this paper. The exact TDSM of each member is assembled to obtain the system matrix that is frequency dependent. All free vibration eigensolutions including coincident roots for the characteristic equation can be obtained to any desired accuracy using the algorithm developed by Wittrick and Williams (1971, “A General Algorithm for Computing Natural Frequencies of Elastic Structures,” Q. J. Mech. Appl. Math., 24, pp. 263–284). Exact eigenfunction of structures can then be computed using the dynamic shape function and the corresponding eigenvector. The results showed good agreement with those computed by finite element method.