ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at oscillatory motion, in particular harmonic motion, and see how this motion is applied to linear and transverse systems. It considers the nature of vibration within these systems, both free and forced vibration, together with the effects of damping and resonance, which are all inextricably linked with oscillatory motion systems. All systems subject to oscillatory motion will be subject to some form of damping that will cause the vibration to die away unless subjected to some externally applied harmonic force, which may be applied directly or via some part of the system structure. Sinusoidal forces are often used to model forced vibration, since many types of oscillatory vibration may be formed from sinusoidal forces in combination. The natural vibration of the beam considered is known as transverse vibration, in that the oscillations resulting from the point load at the end of the cantilever beam act at right angles to the length of the beam.
