Dynamic contact analysis of a tensioned beam with a moving mass-spring system

The dynamic contact problem of a tensioned beam with clamped-pinned ends is analyzed when the beam contacts a moving mass-spring system. The contact and contact loss conditions are expressed in terms of constraint equations after considering the dynamic contact between the beam and the moving mass. Using these constraints and equations of motion for the beam and moving mass, dynamic contact equations are derived and then discretized using the finite element method, which is based on the Lagrange multiplier method. The time responses for the contact forces are computed from these discretized equations. The contact force variations and contact loss are investigated for the variations of the moving mass velocity, the beam tension, the moving mass, and the stiffness of the moving mass-spring system. In addition, the possibility of contact loss and safe contact conditions between the moving mass and the tensioned beam are also studied. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.