A Pair of Partially Coupled Beams Subjected to Concentrated Force

This paper presents a solution for a symmetrical coupled beam structure loaded by a concentrated force. In this structure, a simply supported beam is coupled to another beam by a thin elastic layer, and the elastic layer can connect either the whole beams or only part of the beams. This solution generalized the previously published solution on a uniform coupling to the case of partial coupling. The solution strategy with governing equations and boundary conditions is discussed, and the solution for a most practical case is given explicitly. The analytical solution is in excellent agreement with the finite element analysis result. Finally, the effect of the key parameters is discussed in detail, with emphasis on its application in structural analysis of printed circuit board assembly in electronic packaging.