Nonlinear dynamics of a planar beam–spring system: analytical and numerical approaches

The multiple timescales method is applied to the exact partial differential equations of the planar motion of a hinged–simply supported beam with a linear axial spring of arbitrary stiffness. The forced-damped and free oscillations of the system around frequencies corresponding to n th natural bending mode are examined thoroughly and compared with numerical simulations as well as with already published results obtained by Lindstedt–Poincaré method. A special numerical technique using explicit finite element method to draw the frequency–response curves is appositely developed. The well-known jump phenomena between resonant and non-resonant branches, as well as superharmonic resonances, have been detected numerically.