Some recent advances in numerical methods in structural dynamics

The purpose of this paper is to present some recent developments in the area of numerical dynamic analysis of large structural systems. The first part of the paper is devoted to the finite dynamic element method, a new concept in the discretization of a continuum, the adoption of which effects considerable reduction in the number of degrees of freedom for a required solution accuracy, when compared with the usual finite element method. This is followed by a brief description of eigenproblem solution techniques, for the free vibration analysis of both rotating and nonrotating structures, that fully exploit the associated matrix sparsity. Together, these techniques constitute a powerful tool for the free vibration and subsequent dynamic response analysis of complex practical structures.