Preface

The two-volume work, Structural DynamicsdFundamentals and

Advanced Applications, is a comprehensive work that encompasses the
fundamentals of structural dynamics and vibration analysis, as well as
advanced applications used on extremely large and complex systems.
Because of the scope of the work, the material is divided into two volumes.
Volume I covers fundamentals, and Volume II covers advanced applica-
tions. The derivations are complete and rigorous, and the topics covered
are those needed to become a learned member of the structural dynamics
community and solve the complex problems encountered.
Volume I covers all the material needed for a first course in structural
dynamics, including a thorough discussion of Newton’s laws, single-
degree-of-freedom systems, damping, transfer and frequency response
functions, transient vibration analysis (frequency and time domain),
multi-degree-of-freedom systems, forced vibration of single- and multi-
degree-of-freedom systems, numerical methods for solving for the re-
sponses of single- and multi-degree-of-freedom systems, and symmetric
and nonsymmetric eigenvalue problems. This volume also includes a thor-
ough discussion of real and complex modes, and the conditions that lead to
each. Solutions to systems with gyroscopic effects due to spinning rotors, as
well as aeroelastic instability in simple systems, are covered as part of the
discussion on complex modes. In addition, stochastic methods are covered,
including derivation of solutions for the response of single- and multi-
degree-of-freedom systems excited by random forces or base motion.
Volume II includes all material needed for graduate-level courses in
structural dynamics. This includes d’Alembert’s principle, Hamilton’s prin-
ciple, and Lagrange’s equations, all of which are derived from fundamental
principles. Development of large complex structural dynamic models is
thoroughly covered with derivations and detailed discussion of component
mode synthesis and fluid/structure interaction; an introduction to applicable
finite element methods is also included. Material needed to solve complex
problems, such as the response of launch vehicles and their payloads to tur-
bulence/gust, buffet, and static-aeroelastic loading encountered during at-
mospheric flight, is addressed from fundamental principles to the final
equations and response calculations. The formulations of the equations of

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motion include aeroelasticity, and the response calculations include statis-

tical analysis of the response quantities.
Volume II also includes a thorough discussion of mode survey testing,
mode parameter identification, and model adjustment to improve agreement
with test data. Detailed data processing needed for the analysis of time
signals, such as digitization, filtering, and transform computation, is also
included with thorough derivations and proofs. Since the field of structural
dynamics needs to deal with variability in practically all aspects, a compre-
hensive discussion of probability and statistics is included, with detailed
derivations and proofs related to the statistics of time series data, small
sample statistics, and the combination of responses whose statistical
distributions are different. Volume II concludes with an extensive chapter
on continuous systems, which not only includes the classical derivations
and solutions for strings, membranes, beams, and plates but also the
derivation and closed form solutions for rotating disks and sloshing of fluids
in rectangular and cylindrical tanks.
The two volumes of Structural DynamicsdFundamentals and Advanced
Applications were written with both the practicing engineer and students
just learning structural dynamics in mind. The derivations are rigorous
and comprehensive, thus making understanding the material easier; this
also allows more material to be covered in less time. To facilitate learning,
detailed solutions to nearly 300 problems are included. This allows students
to work the problems and immediately check their solutions; and for
practicing engineers these problems serve as additional examples to those
provided within the chapters. As a final note, the material covered in the
two volumes can be divided into two primary categories: material that is
fundamental to learning and understanding structural dynamics; and
material that is being used to solve extremely complex structural dynamics
problems by the leading practitioners in the field.