NUMERICAL FIRST MODE FREQUENCY ANALYSIS OF AXIALLY LAYERED FUNCTIONALLY GRADED TAPERED BEAMS

The purpose of this numerical work is to evaluate the first mode frequency analysis of the tapered beams withthree layers, modelled using functionally graded materials (FGM) in the axially direction, under clampedclamped (C-C) boundary condition based on finite element software named ANSYS V13. Analyses wereconducted using L16 Taguchi orthogonal array design consisting of three control factors and four levels. Thelayers were determined as the control factors and were considered to be made from aluminum(Al)/monotungsten carbide (WC) systems. The optimum layer combination was carried out according to theanalysis of signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio. The importance levels and contribution ratios of the layers on the firstmode frequency of the axially layered FG tapered beams were observed by using analysis of variance(ANOVA). Layer 1 and Layer 3 have positive effects on the first mode frequency values. However, Layer 2 hasnegative influence. In addition, the most effective layers are Layer 1 with 82.17%, Layer 2 with 16.36% andLayer 3 with 1.45%, respectively.