This paper presents the use of a transfer matrix method to determine the natural frequencies and mode shapes of a multispan, nonuniform beam; and the application of a mode superposition technique to the analysis of dynamic response of the beam caused by moving loads. To check the reliability of the theory introduced and the computer program developed, the dynamic responses of a single‐span, simply supported uniform beam and a multispan, nonuniform beam subjected to a moving load with constant velocity were studied. The results obtained were compared with the exact solutions and existing information. It was found that good agreement was achieved. Next, the dynamic behavior of the multispan, nonuniform beam subjected to various conditions of moving load were investigated. The cases studied include a single and series moving load with constant and varying speeds traversing the beam in identical and opposite directions.
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Wu et al. (1987) studied this question.