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1 Introduction
Fig. 1.10 a A discretized plate, b Discretized ship
no obvious choice exists. In such cases, like conventional one-dimensional structures
which are considered as an assemblage of structural elements interconnected at their
intersections, the continuum is assumed to consist of imaginary divisions. Thus,
the real continuum is divided into a finite number of discrete elements as shown in
Fig. 1.10. The continuum is considered as an assemblage of these ‘finite elements’.
1.8 Response of the System
The dynamic load applied to the system not only produces certain motions, but also
cause certain associated stresses, strains, reactions, etc. The term response of a system
indicates any of the above effects produced by the dynamic load. More commonly,
however, the dynamic response indicates the displacement time history.
1.9 Types of Analysis
Dynamic load being defined as a time varying load, the structural response to dynamic
loading is also time varying or dynamic. For the evaluation of the response due to
the dynamic load, there are basically two different approaches:
deterministic and random.