SUMMARYThis paper presents the theory regarding a moving distributed mass element, so that the dynamic responses of a rectangular plate subjected to a moving distributed mass, with the effects of inertia force, Coriolis force and centrifugal force considered, can be easily determined. In which, the property matrices of the moving distributed mass element are derived by means of the principle of superposition and the definition of shape functions, and the overall property matrices of the entire vibrating system are determined from the combination of the last element property matrices of the moving distributed mass element and those of the plate itself. Since the property matrices of the moving distributed mass element have something to do with the instantaneous position and the distribution of the moving mass, they are time-dependent and so are the overall property matrices of the entire vibrating system. Based on the last concept, the equations of motion for a rectangular plate subjected to a moving distributed mass are established and solved to yield the dynamic responses of the entire vibrating system. Numerical results reveal that the factors such as the contact area (between the moving distributed mass and the plate), moving-load speed, inertia force, Coriolis force and centrifugal force affect the vibration characteristics of the plate to some degree.