Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 February 2004
The initial boundary value problem for a beam is considered in the Timoshenko model. Assuming the analyticity of the initial conditions, it is proved that the problem is solvable throughout the time interval. After that, a numerical algorithm, consisting of three steps, is constructed. The solution is approximated with respect to the spatial and time variables using the Galerkin method and a Crank–Nicholson type scheme. The system of equations obtained by discretization is solved by a version of the Picard iteration method. The accuracy of the proposed algorithm is investigated.