Abstract
A new finite element model is developed and subsequently used for transverse vibrations of tapered Timoshenko beams with rectangular cross-section. The displacement functions of the finite element are derived from the coupled displacement field (the polynomial coefficients of transverse displacement and cross-sectional rotation are coupled through consideration of the differential equations of equilibrium) approach by considering the tapering functions of breadth and depth of the beam. This procedure reduces the number of nodal variables. The new model can also be used for uniform beams. The stiffness and mass matrices of the finite element model are expressed by using the energy equations. To confirm the accuracy, efficiency, and versatility of the new model, a semi-symbolic computer program in MATLAB® is developed. As illustrative examples, the bending natural frequencies of non-rotating/rotating uniform and tapered Timoshenko beams are obtained and compared with previously published results and the results obtained from the finite element models of solids created in ABAQUS. Excellent agreement is found between the results of new finite element model and the other results.