Effects of end conditions of cross-ply laminated composite beams on their dimensionless natural frequencies

The effects of the end conditions of cross-ply laminated composite beams on their dimensionless natural frequencies of free vibration is investigated. The problem is analyzed and solved by using the energy approach, which is formulated by a finite element model. Various end conditions of beams are used. Each beam has either movable ends or immovable ends. Numerical results are verified by comparisons with other relevant works. It is found that more constrained beams have higher values of natural frequencies of transverse vibration. The values of the natural frequencies of longitudinal modes are found to be the same for all beams with movable ends because they are generated by longitudinal movements only.