AbstractThe dispersive and spurious oscillation properties of one‐dimensional uniform finite element meshes are investigated using the information provided by the frequency response functions of the finite element meshes. The modal superposition method, in which the effects of temporal discretization are eliminated, is employed to integrate the discretized equations of motion. Compared with the commonly used complex variable method, this approach reveals more clearly the physical essence of the dispersion and spurious oscillation phenomena. A series of interesting results is obtained.