Efficient stability and vibration analysis of an all steel modular floor assembly

The objective of this paper is to document and validate the extension of an open source finite strip method stability software (CUFSM) to include vibration analysis, and to demonstrate the application of the resulting solution to assess the stability and vibration of a prototype all-steel modular floor assembly. Currently, the open source finite strip software CUFSM performs stability analysis of thin-walled members, providing eigen buckling loads and the corresponding buckling mode shapes. The same framework and solvers may readily be extended to vibration analysis, as both are eigenvalue problems, and thus the extended software can provide eigen frequencies and the corresponding vibration mode shapes. The vibration implementation is verified against existing vibration frequency solutions for plates and beams. To demonstrate the efficiency of having both stability and vibration solutions readily at hand, preliminary assessment of a floor assembly is performed for a variety of parameters, e.g., beam size, plate thickness, and attachment assumptions using the finite strip method as implemented in a custom version of CUFSM. The work is part of a larger effort that is also investigating detailed shell finite element models, experimental strength, vibration, and acoustical assessments of the floor assembly.

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