Advanced Structural Dynamics

Catalog description

Structural dynamics is an upper level engineering course covering fundamental topics on the analysis of single and multiple degree of freedom civil engineering systems under dynamic loading, ground accelerations, and blast loadings. The formulation of the second order ordinary differential equation of motion will be discussed and a variety of mathematical techniques used to solve accelerating inertial systems will be discussed: some topics include Laplace and Fourier transforms, convolution integral, modal and spectral matrices, Rayleigh Ritz method, and the central difference method for numerical analysis. An introduction to spectral analysis and earthquake design will also be discussed, which includes concepts in pseudo acceleration and equivalent lateral design loads for base shear. Although this course focuses on structural engineering applications, the basic principles and techniques learned here can be applied to other types of vibrating systems: aerospace vehicles, satellites, vibrating machinery, etc.