No abstract

The author has done it again! Following up with his previous books on vibration and dynamics, he presents a book containing a vast amount of information employing digital computers in the analysis of structural dynamics. As quoted from the author, "This book presents the latest developments in structural dynamics and also provides the mathematical background necessary for understanding the various modelling techniques and computational algorithms." The advent of the finite element (FE) method, substructure synthesis accompanied by the great advances in digital computers have revolutionized computational procedures. The newly developed methods of analysis allows the formulation of increasingly complex problems via digital computers. The book can be considered to be divided into three parts: discrete systems, distributed systems, and discretized systems.The book contains 11 chapters. Chapter 1 introduces the reader to linear algebra, i.e., theory and application of matrices. Chapter 2 considers free vibration of discrete systems via Lagrange's equation. Chapter 3 discusses the eigenvalue problem. The author examines the matrices comprising the eigenvalue solution, and the geometrical interpretation of the eigenvalue problem is considered. We proceed to Hermitian matrices and eigenvalue problems for nonpositive definite real symmetric matrices and nonsymmetric matrices.Chapter 4 initiates the reader into the qualitative behavior of the eigensolution. The Rayleigh principle is stressed. This, in turn, leads to the inclusion principle, eigenvalues of the sum of two Hermitian matrices. The chapter concludes with a good discussion of Gerschgorin's theorems and first order perturbances of the eigenvalue problem.Proceeding onward, Chapter 5 focuses on computational methods for the eigensolution. Among the topics considered are Gaussian elimination, matrix iteration by the power method, Given's method, Hotelling, Choleski, Jacobi and QR methods. This is a powerful chapter. But the reviewer was surprised that Crout's method, so well adapted to the computer, was not mentioned. The reviewer has used this procedure with gusto. This chapter is must reading for those interested in the solution of dynamic problems.Chapter 6 deals with the response of discrete systems. The various aspects of linear systems are considered, i.e., superposition principle, convolution integrals, and applications to response of undamped gyroscopic and nongyroscopic systems and damped systems. The chapter concludes with the response of general dynamic systems and discrete time models for general dynamic systems.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract