M.R Shirazizadeh - Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
H Shahverdi - Department of Aerospace Engineering and Center of Excellence in Computational Aerospace, Amirkabir University of Technology, ۴۲۴ Hafez Avenue, Tehran ۱۵۸۷۵-۴۴۱۳, Iran
A Imam - Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

In this study, a novel and very simple finite element procedure is presented for free vibration and buckling analysis of slim beam-like structures damaged by edge cracks. A cracked region of a beam is modeled using a very short element with reduced second moment of area (I). For computing reduced I in a cracked region, the elementary theory of bending of beams and local flexibility approach are used. The method is able to model cracked beam-columns by using ordinary beam elements. Therefore, it is possible to solve these problems with much less computational costs compared to 2D and 3D standard FE models. Numerical examples are offered to demonstrate the efficiency and effectiveness of the presented method.        

Cracked beam, Modal Analysis, Buckling load, F.E.M