Dynamics of Space-Fractional Euler-Bernoulli and Timoshenko Beams

This paper investigates the dynamics of the beam-like structures whose response manifests a strong scale effect. The space-Fractional Euler-Bernoulli beam (s-FEBB) and space-Fractional Timoshenko beam (s-FTB) models, which are suitable for small-scale slender beams and small-scale thick beams, respectively, have been extended to a dynamic case. The study provides appropriate governing equations, numerical approximation, detailed analysis of free vibration, and experimental validation. The parametric study presents the influence of non-locality parameters on the frequencies and shape of modes delivering a depth insight into a dynamic response of small scale beams. The comparison of the s-FEBB and s-FTB models determines the applicability limit of s-FEBB and indicates that the model (also the classical one) without shear effect and rotational inertia can only be applied to beams significantly slender than in a static case. Furthermore, the validation has confirmed that the fractional beam model exhibits very good agreement with the experimental results existing in the literature-for both the static and the dynamic cases. Moreover, it has been proven that for fractional beams it is possible to establish constant parameters of non-locality related to the material and its microstructure, independent of beam geometry, the boundary conditions, and the type of analysis (with or without inertial forces).