Free vibration of tapered arches made of axially functionally graded materials

The free vibration of axially functionally graded tapered arches including shear deformation and rotatory inertia are studied through solving the governing differential equation of motion. Numerical results are presented for circular, parabolic, catenary, elliptic and sinusoidal arches with hinged-hinged, hinged-clamped and clamped-clamped end restraints. In this study Differential Quadrature element of lowest order (DQEL) or Lagrangian Interpolation technique is applied to solve the problems. Three general taper types for rectangular section are considered. The lowest four natural frequencies are calculated and compared with the published results.