Structural dynamic modeling: Tales of sin and redemption

Abstract

The great twentieth century mathematician, John von Neumann, once said, “At a great distance from its empirical source, or after much abstract inbreeding, a mathematical subject is in danger of degeneration. Whenever this stage is reached the only remedy seems to me to be the rejuvenating return to the source: the reinjection of more or less empirical ideas.” This wisdom is especially applicable to the field of structural dynamics. The present paper takes a look at the historical and empirical bases of key aspects of structural dynamic phenomena including damping of materials and built-up assemblies, behavior of viscoelastic materials, interaction of structures and fluids, and general parametric uncertainties. Migration of misconceptions in engineering practice and, in particular, commercial software products are cited. Illustrative examples of the benefits of recollection of fundamentals in aerospace, marine and civil applications are described.