Modal finite element analysis of shear flexible beams

The author considers a problem of free oscillations of a beam with low value of transverse shear stiffness. On the base of Reissner-Midlin plate theory, the finite element of a shear flexible beam is developed. There are transverse shear strains among the basic kinematic nodal variables. The urgency of the model is shown by test modal analysis of beams. Vibrations of sandwich beams and thick layered composite beams under non-classical boundary conditions are investigated.