Critical Velocity of a Load Moving on a Beam Supported by an Elastic Stratum

Abstract

The present paper investigates the characteristics of the critical velocity of a load moving on a beam supported by an elastic stratum. In the analysis it is assumed that the stratum is a continuum which is homogeneous, isotropic, and linearly elastic. Both welded and smooth contacts between beam and foundation are considered. The influence of the density and the thickness of a foundation on the critical velocities is studied. The results are compared with those obtained from the Winkler assumption. It is found that the critical velocities for smooth contact are not so different from those for welded contact. The critical velocities vary considerably with the values of the density and the thickness of the foundation. The velocity by the Winkler assumption and the one by the continuum theory are relatively close to each other when the foundation is a light and thin layer though they are generally different from each other.