Published online by Cambridge University Press: 07 June 2016
It is shown that considerable improvement is achieved in the most popular classical approach to the vibration of structural members by giving new meaning to the generalised coordinate term in the infinite series expansion of the product of the generalised coordinate and eigenfunction. A transform employing the eigenfunction as a kernel efficiently generates a universal solution that embraces arbitrary loading, time-dependent boundary conditions, and such in-span conditions as supports and changes in cross section, axial load, and elastic foundation modulus. The method is applied to the Timoshenko beam as a representative structural member.