1

A simply supported uniform beam

x = 0 x = L
x
y
( ) x w EI
dx
y d
=
4
4
DEFLECTION y(x)
Expand into a
Fourier Series
input function, forcing
function, excitation function
Output or
response
w
LOAD w(x)
( )

<
< <
<
=
L x
x w
x
x w
L
L L
o
L
3
2
3
2
3
3
0
0 0
w
LOAD w(x)
x = 2L/3 x = L/3
Jean Baptiste Joseph Fourier
Born: 21 Mar 1768
in Auxerre, Bourgogne, France
Died: 16 May 1830 in Paris, France
Scientific adviser of Napoleons army
in the invasion of Egypt
Worked on the theory of heat in 1804
> Published in 1807 his memoir: On the
Propagation of Heat in Solid Bodies
Objections to his work:
(1) Fouriers expansions of functions as a
trigonometric series
(from Lagrange and Laplace)
(1) Fouriers derivation of the equations of
transfer of heat
(Biot)
2
Periodic functions
f(t)
t
-1
7 5 4 3 2 1
1
6 8 -1 -2
A periodic function
Can we represent the function in terms of sines &
cosines?
3
DEFINITION: Periodic function
The function f(x) is said to be periodic of period 2p if there
exists a number p such that f(x) = f(x+2p) for all x. p must
be the smallest number for which f(x) = f(x+2p).
= 2 p 2
The period is the length of that
segment of the curve whose shape
is repeated over and over.
DEFINITION: Fourier Series of f(x)

=
|
|
.
|

\
|
+

+ =
1 n
p
x n
sin
n
b
p
x n
cos
n
a
2
0
a
) x ( f

+
+
+

=
=
p 2 d
d
n
p 2 d
d
n
p 2 d
d
0
dx
p
x n
sin ) x ( f
p
1
b
dx
p
x n
cos ) x ( f
p
1
a
dx ) x ( f
p
1
a
Euler-Fourier
coefficients
FOURIER SERIES: a representation
of a periodic function
4
DIRICHLET Conditions
If f(x) is single-valued, of period 2p, and if at any one
period it has a finite number of maxima and minima and a
finite number of finite discontinuities, then the Fourier series
of f(x) converges to f(x) at all points where f(x) is
continuous. At each point of discontinuity of f(x), the
series converges to the average of the values
approached by f(x) from the right and from the left.
Dirichlet conditions must be
satisfied so that f(x) can be
expanded into a Fourier
series.
NOTE:
7 5 4 3 2 1
5
6 8 -1 -2
2
9 10 0
f(x)
x
Obtain the Fourier series expansion of the periodic function
5
Q:
Q:
A:
A:
Could it happen that some of the Euler-
Fourier coefficients be equal zero?
Yes, especially in the case of even or
odd functions.
DEFINITION: Even and ODD Functions
f(x) is an even function of x if, for every x, f(x)=f(-x)
f(x) is an odd function of x if, for every x, f(x)=-f(-x)
/2 2 3/2 /2 3/2 2
The graph of an even function is symmetric about the y axis.
The graph of an odd function is symmetric about the origin.
6
The product of two even functions is an even function.
The product of two odd functions is an even function.
The product of an odd and an even function is ______ ?
NOTE:
NOTE:
If f(x) is even,

=

a
0
dx ) x ( f 2
a
a
dx ) x ( f
If f(x) is odd, 0
a
a
dx ) x ( f =

Fourier cosine series

If f(x) is an even function satisfying the Dirichlet conditions

+ =
1 n
p
x n
cos
n
a
2
0
a
) x ( f

=
=
p
0
dx
p
x n
cos ) x ( f
p
2
n
a
p
0
dx ) x ( f
p
2
0
a
7
Fourier sine series
If f(x) is an odd function satisfying the Dirichlet conditions

=
1 n
p
x n
sin
n
b ) x ( f

=
p
0
dx
p
x n
sin ) x ( f
p
2
n
b
Obtain the Fourier series expansion of the periodic function
f(t)
t
-1
7 5 4 3 2 1
1
6 8 -1 -2
8
Functions defined only in a < x < b
7 5 4 3 2 1
5
6 8 -1 -2 9 10
-5

< < +
< <
=
6 x 3 5
3 x 0 5
) x ( f
7 5 4 3 2 1
5
6 8 -1 -2 9 10
-5
7 5 4 3 2 1
5
6 8 -1 -2 9 10
-5
Create an even periodic function F
1
(x)
Create an odd periodic function F
2
(x)
2p = 12
2p = 6
FOURIER SERIES IN ORDINARY
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
Obtain the general solution of the differential equation,
where f(t) is
( ) t f y 85
dt
dy
4
dt
y d
2
2
= + +
( )

=

=
1 n
2
t n
sin
n
b t f
( )
2
n
sin
n
8
n
b
2

=
f(t)
t
-1
7 5 4 3 2 1
1
6 8 -1 -2