This study investigates the dynamic characteristics and transverse vibration suppression of helicopter rotor blades using centrifugal pendulum vibration absorbers. The governing differential equation of motion of a rotating cantilever beam with a centrifugal absorber is developed using the finite element method and Ritz method. The effectiveness of the developed finite element formulation is demonstrated by comparing the results in terms of natural frequencies obtained using FEM with those of obtained using Ritz method and experimental measurements. Various parametric studies are performed to investigate the effect of variation of natural frequencies with rotational speed, the location, length and mass of the centrifugal absorbers and the effect of centrifugal vibration absorbers on reducing the transverse vibration response of the beam. It is shown that the reduction in transverse vibration amplitude of the beam increases by locating the pendulum near the tip of the beam and increase in magnitude of the mass. © Copyright 2014 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.