Structural Dynamics: Theory and Computation

This text discusses the analysis and design of structures subjected to dynamic forces or to earthquake excitations. It offers a clear presentation of the theory, combining illustrative examples with the use of computer programs for immediate corroboration of results and extension to larger dynamic systems. The book is divided into six sections initially treating structures modelled by the simple oscillator as single degree-of-freedom systems. It includes chapters for undamped and damped systems as well as methods of solution for dynamic systems. The second part introduces the reader to structures modelled as shear buildings and to the Modal Superposition Method in which the response is obtained as the combination of the responses of independent single degree-of-freedom systems. Part Three presents the dynamic analysis of structures modelled as two- or three-dimensional frames or trusses whilst Part Four contains two chapters that treat structures as continuous systems with distributed inertial and elastic properties. Part Five introduces the reader to random vibrations on structural dynamics using the discrete and fast Fourier transforms. Finally, the sixth part contains chapters on earthquake resistant design of buildings. Two independent sets of interactive menu-driven computer programs in structural dynamics and earthquake engineering are available in BASIC in compiled and non-compiled versions for implementation on IBM or compatible microcomputers. This book may be of interest to advanced undergraduate or graduate engineering students, professional engineers.