MODAL ANALYSIS OF CRACKED CANTILEVER BEAM USING MATLAB AND

ANSYS SOFTWARE
[1]
G.Viknesh, [1]M.S.G. Vishnu Kaasyap
[1] PG student, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, India.

Abstract— Depending on the failure mechanism of the resonance-induced vibration, any structures with a fracture are prone
to failure. The resonance is formed when periodic forces operating on a structure are paired with the intrinsic frequency of
that structure. As a result, in order to estimate the periodic load resonance condition, the natural frequency must be estimated.
A mild steel cantilever beam with a length of 3 m, a width of 0.25 m, and a depth of 0.20 m are used in this investigation. The
natural frequency, mode forms, and deflection of the first three modes of transverse vibration for a broken cantilever beam
were investigated using modal analysis. The modal analysis of the cantilever beam is performed with a crack positioned at 1 m,
1.5 m, and 2 m from a fixed end.The modal analysis of the cantilever beam is done with a crack situated 1 m, 1.5 m, and 2 m
from the top face of the cantilever beam. The crack width and depth are set to 0.002 m and 0.1 m, respectively, in all models.
For broken beams, tetrahedrons meshing is used for better results. The FEA simulation is run using the ANSYS software. To
assure accuracy, the theoretically generated results are confirmed with finite element analysis findings to ensure that the
produced results are almost identical. When comparing CFRAL and steel to CFRP, the natural frequency of cracked beams
lowers. A crack's effect is also not consistent across all modes of vibration. As a result, the failure of a cracked beam can be
detected, and preventative measures can be done before cantilever beam fractures occur.

Keywords—RESONANCE,TETRAHEDRON, MODAL,ANSYS, CFRP, CFRAL.

I. INTRODUCTION
All structures are prone to degenerative effects throughout the
operation, which may result in the commencement of
structural flaws such as cracks, which can lead to catastrophic
failure or collapse of the structure over time. The dynamical
behaviour of a structural element is influenced by cracks or
imperfections, which modify its stiffness and damping
qualities. As a result, the structure’s Natural frequencies and
mode shapes convey information about the damage’s position
and proportions. Cantilever beams made of mild steel are
commonly utilized in ships and offshore platforms. It is also
used to build stadiums, bridges, buildings, high-rise towers,
and other constructions. As a result, a single crack in a
cantilever beam can lead to the collapse of a large structure. It
is difficult to perform modal analysis of a cantilever beam
using an analytical approach when there are discontinuities.
Finite element analysis is the most effective method for
handling these problems to date, and in this study, ANSYS is
utilized to carry out all the computations. The author gives a
free vibration beam model with open edges. It examined how
depth and position affect crack frequency. The effects of
various crack locations are compared to a simply supported
beam without a crack. The beam vibration study shows that the
beam without cracks has a lower fundamental frequency than
the cracked beams .As a result, detecting the depth and
position of a single crack in a beam is rather straightforward.
The most common method for finding cracks in structures is
modal analysis. A beam with a single-edged notch was
analyzed using ANSYS Mechanical APDL 20.0. Modal
analysis was used to estimate the beam’s mode shape and
natural frequency. A decrease in stiffness results in a lower
fundamental frequency as the crack depth increases. The
natural frequencies reduce as the crack depth increases on the
beam. Therefore, the natural frequencies fall, and the mode
shape of both crack and non-crack beam modes changes. The
FEA research is carried out on cracked and uncracked simply
supported continuous beams composed of structural steel and
aluminum using the ANSYS V20 software . This study’s goal
is to measure fracture size in damaged beams. It is based on
experimental modal analysis. A defect-free beam and a
fractured beam were studied. The study’s findings show that
vibration patterns may be utilized to gauge fracture depth. The
experimental data and ANSYS simulations are quite similar .
Previous studies focused on the impacts of cracks on the top
edges of cantilever beams. Thus, research into the effects of
the top, middle, and bottom edge cracks on cantilever beam
structures is required. The top, middle, and bottom edge cracks
on the steel cantilever beam are studied because they occur
due to the fatigue load.
2.1 Analytical Investigation
Geometry of model For modal analysis, the triangular size
top, middle, and bottom edge cracked instances are examined
in this study. The beam is 3 m in length (L), 0.25 m in width
(w), and 0.2 m in thickness (t). The beam’s cross-sectional
area (A) is 0.05 m2 . Fig. 1
illustrates the top edge crack, where x denotes the location of
the first crack from the fixed end of the cantilever beam and d
represents the depth crack. The specimen’s material
properties are as follows: Young’s Modulus (E) is 210 ×10 9
N/m2 , Density is 7860 Kg/m3 ,Poisons ratio is 0.3.

1
 The current study looks at four cracked models of triangular other two material steel and CFRAL has lower frequency
edge cracks. These cracked models are being used to compared to CFRP. The frequency of top edge cracks, on the
investigate the effect of a triangular shape crack on the other hand, varies depending on the position of the crack.
Table 2 shows the frequency of modes 1, 2, and 3 at various
crack locations for CFRP, Fig 9–11 demonstrate that
frequency variation is dependent on the crack location and
surface and that the pattern of fluctuation varies for various
mode shapes. From fig 6-9, we have plotted natural
frequency of different material with different crack
location.in which huge variations are seen in uncracked beam
of different beam material compared to crack at different
location from fixed end. The natural frequency of edge crack
of 2.0m from fixed end is almost similar for three different
Figure 2: Tetrahedron Element modelling material. In order to increase the accuracy we are using
tetrahedron mesh elements. The frequency of CFRP has in
dynamic behavior of a cantilever beam. Cases 1, 2, and 3 the higher range in all modes compared to other two materials
each have a crack on the cantilever beam’s top, middle, or from the top edge crack. As a result, the natural frequency
bottom edge. In cases 1, 2, and 3, transverse rectangular reduces due to cracks at various locations and variations in
cracks are located at 0.5 m, 1 m, 1.5 m, 2 m, and 2.5 m the stiffness characteristic of beams [9,10].
intervals from the fixed end of the cantilever beam.
Furthermore, the constant crack depth and width of 0.1 m and 2.3. Maximum deflection of cracked cantilever beam
0.002 m are considered. 2.2. Validation Initial validation Figs. 10-12 show the maximum deflection of cracks at the
used a theoretical uncracked cantilever beam natural different beam’s material relative to the fixed end. When
frequency. Then the same uncracked beam was analyzed with damage is applied to the beam’s top for different material
ANSYS. The natural frequencies of modes 1, 2, and 3 are most significant deflection is at the top edge from 1m,1.5 m,
18.56, 114, and 309.67 cycles/sec, respectively. ANSYS used 2.0 m from the fixed end for Mode 1, Mode 2, and Mode 3,
tetrahedron mesh elements to analyze the model. The respectively, and is 1.8924 mm, 1.892 mm, and 1.8795mm..
hexahedral element has been considered with reduced and The deflection of steel ,CFRP, CFRAL ,varies, depending on
Gauss point integration. Fig. 5 shows the tetrahedron element the position of the crack. Table 1 shows the deflection of
used for meshing. Figs. 2–4 show that using the hexahedral modes 1, 2, and 3 at various crack locations. Figs. 10–12
element with Gauss point integration improves the results for indicate that the deflection variation depends on the position
the first three modes. The result of reduced integration for the and surface of the crack, and the variation pattern varies
hexahedral element deviates greatly from theoretical values. based on the mode shape.. As a result, the higher the
Table 1 compares theoretical and modal analysis values for deflection, the lower the value of beam stiffness, and hence
an uncracked cantilever beam in Mode 1, Mode 2, and Mode the lower the natural frequency.
3. Finite element modelling and analysis The cracked beams’
natural frequencies are estimated using the finite element
program ANSYS. As a result, a triangle region is formed. Material Mode Mode Mode
This region is extruded in the third direction, and small 1 2 3
triangular cracks with widths of 0.002 m and depths of 0.1 m Structural Un 1.8428 1.8383 1.8358
are created and extruded at the desired locations. These minor steel cracked
crack volumes are subtracted from a large cantilever beam
model to obtain three-dimensional models with triangle 1 1.8711 1.6893 19253
cracks along the cantilever beam’s top side. A 20-node 1.5 1.892 1.9861 1.5614
solid186 element is employed to describe the beam because 2 1.8795 1.9861 1.5614
of its remarkable qualities, such as stress stiffening, CFRP Un 4.0818 4.0719 4.0664
considerable strain, and high deflection. Fig. 4 shows a cracked
Tetrahedron element being used to mesh a cracked model.
Finite element boundary constraints are applied to the beam 1 4.1446 3.7419 4.2645
at the farthest left end to confine all degrees of freedom. The 1.5 41929 3.8173 4.0064
natural frequencies of the beams are determined using modal 2 4.1631 4.3992 3.4585
analysis. Figs. 6–9 demonstrate the maximum natural CFRAL Un 3.8483 3.839 3.8338
frequency of mode 3 at a 1.5 m crack location compared to
cracked
other crack locations for top edge cracks, and such frequency
variation is due to changes in beam stiffness. 1 3.9075 3.5279 4.0206
1.5 3.9531 3.599 3.772
2.2 Results and Discussion 2 3.925 4.1476 3.2607
Frequencies of cracked cantilever beam Figs. 10–12 illustrate
the frequency of cracks at the beam’s top relative to the fixed Table1: Maximum deflection at different crack location
end. When damage is applied to the different beam material for Mode 1,2 and 3.
the most significant frequency is at top edge of the CFRP
material from 1, 1.5 m, and 2.0m, from the fixed end of
Mode 1, Mode 2, and Mode 3, respectively, are 32.026,
196.547, 533.25cycles/sec. Furthermore, the frequency of

2
Figure 3: Uncracked cantilever beam frequency for mode 3

Figure 4: Uncracked cantilever beam frequency for mode 2

Figure 5: Uncracked cantilever beam frequency for mode 1

3
 600
Frequency (Hz)
500
400
300 600
400

Frequency (Hz)
200 200
100 0
1 2 3
0
1 2 3 steel 18.62678726 113.8185593 307.0512467
steel 18.121 111.28 302.29 cfrp 32.26540032 187.256 493.856
cfrp 32.144 197.4 536.21 cfral 25.64797751 156.7213814 422.7912903
cfral 25.551 156.92 426.24

Figure 6: Natural frequency of uncracked beam Figure 9: Natural frequency of edge cracked beam of
2.0 m from fixed end

CFRP software Uncracked 1 m 1.5 m 2.0 m

600
Frequency(Hz)

400 Mode Ansys 32.144 29.78 30.649 31.8

200 MATLAB 32.026 32.21 32.28 32.2
0 1
1 2 3 Error 0.367 8.16 5.33 1.47
steel 17.15 104.94 298.25 Mode Ansys 197.4 186.14 183.25 172.63
cfrp 32.2100265 197.2596101 532.4422111 2 MATLAB 196.547 197.26 195.90 187.25
cfral 25.60396029 156.802952 423.2417899 Error 0.432 5.94 6.9 7.8
Mode Ansys 536.21 4988.74 535.47 463
3 MATLAB 533.251 532.442 538.17 493.85
Error 0.552 6.75 0.50 6.24
Figure 7: Natural frequency of edge cracked beam of
1.0 m from fixed end
Table 2: Frequency of cfrp at different crack location at
Mode 1,2 and 3
600
Frequency(Hz)

500
400
300
200
100
0
1 2 3
steel 18.63677696 113.094329 310.6898767
cfrp 32.28270475 195.9024788 538.1783287
cfral 25.66173278 155.7241595 427.8014672

Figure 8: Natural frequency of edge cracked beam of

1.5 m from fixed end Figure 10: Natural frequency of edge cracked beam of
2.0 m from fixed end

4

Figure 11: Natural frequency of CFRP edge cracked
beam of
2.0 m from fixed end
Figure 12: Natural frequency of CFRP edge cracked
beam of
2.0 m from fixed end
3. Conclusions
The modal analysis of uncracked and cracked cantilever
beam research led to the following conclusions:
• In terms of establishing theoretical values,
analytical identification of natural frequency values
is extremely accurate.
• The natural frequency is reduced by the presence of
cracks, with the amount of reduction varying
depending on the material and location of the
fractures.
• In comparison to the other two materials, CFRP
fractured cantilever beams have a higher natural
frequency.
• As the crack moves from the fixed to the free end of
the cantilever beam, the natural frequency changes
somewhat.
• The natural frequency of edge crack of 2.0m from
fixed end is almost similar for three different
material.
• The depth and position of a crack determine the
mode forms of a cracked cantilever beam.The effect
of a crack differed depending on the vibration mode.
The above information can be utilized to predict beam failure
and take preventative measures.
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