The vibration characteristics of a branched thin circular cylindrical shell structure, which resembles the respiratory system tree, are determined using membrane shell theory. Since there is no previous published data in this regard, the finite element method is used to justify the analytical results. The human airways are of a simple tree pattern but complex in physical structure. However, they should behave just like most mechanical parts that have their own natural frequencies in response to external excitation. Investigations are performed from the trachea down to the sixteenth generation. There is a good agreement between the two approaches, which set good foundations for future research.
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