COUPLED LONGITUDINAL AND TRANSVERSE VIBRATIONS OF BEAMS MADE OF NO-TENSION MATERIAL

This paper concerns the study of coupled longitudinal and transverse vibrations of one-dimensional elements made of no-tension materials. In developing the model we have used a non-linear constitutive equation expressing the characteristics of stress as a function of those of the strain; because of the constitutive relation assumed, the longitudinal and transverse vibrations are coupled. We propose a general numerical method for the non-linear dynamic analysis of masonry beams constrained in various ways and subjected to any given loading system as well as vertical and transverse motion imparted to their support. We first derive the algorithm for solution of the coupled transverse and longitudinal problem and then present some examples to show the influence of axial-flexural coupling on dynamic response and how the vertical component of earthquakes may be relevant to the damage sustained by such structures.