Chen J.-SHsu W.-Z.JEN-SAN CHEN2022-03-222022-03-2220220022460Xhttps://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85121227657&doi=10.1016%2fj.jsv.2021.116684&partnerID=40&md5=72a3d632f3c6c3df4e6a719fced7f26ehttps://scholars.lib.ntu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/598878The stability of a distributed mass of finite length travelling uniformly on an infinite beam resting on a visco-elastic foundation is considered in this paper. The focus is placed on the effects of the length of the distributed mass on the stability of the mass-beam-foundation system. It is argued that on the stability boundary, the mass-beam-foundation system is in the form of a steady state periodic motion. To seek the periodic solution, the infinite beam is divided into three segments, in each of which the differential equation is solved analytically. By comparing the stability boundary curves of the distributed mass of finite length with the one of infinite length, it is found that the stability boundary curves of finite length do not converge to the one of infinite length. It is believed that the course of the failure to converge towards the infinite length model is the differences in the boundary conditions at infinity. On the other hand, the stability boundary curves of finite length do converge to the point mass model when the mass length approaches zero. Compared to the point mass model, the distributed mass model is less stable. More precisely, for a specified system damping and total mass, the critical speed is in general much smaller if distributed model is adopted. The longer the mass length, the smaller the critical speed is. In short, the conventional point mass model overestimates the stability of the mass-beam-foundation system. ? 2021 Elsevier LtdDistributed mass of finite lengthInfinite beamStability boundaryFoundationsSystem stabilityBeam foundationsBoundary curvesElastic foundationFinite lengthFoundation systemsInfinite beamsPoint mass modelsStability boundariesVisco-elasticBoundary conditions[SDGs]SDG11journal article10.1016/j.jsv.2021.1166842-s2.0-85121227657