Coupled systems subjected to determinate and random input

Abstract

A method is presented for the analysis of complex structural systems which can be subdivided into any number of component systems arbitrarily interconnected at discrete points. Using experimentally or analytically determined receptances (frequency response functions) characterizing the mechanical properties of the component systems, receptance are derived which characterize the mechanical propertues of the entire coupled system. The requirement of system continuity at the coupling points gives rise to condutions of equilibrium and compatibility at the connections. These conditions aer modified allowing for the presence of elastic and/or dissipative coupling units with negligible masses between the couplin points, thus, adding condiderable practical flexibility to the method. Keeping the contributions of the individual component systems identified, it is then shown how the receptances enter response calculations for the entire system which is subjected to determine or random excitations.