ABSTRACT
This chapter specifically studies several mechanical transfer functions that are very practical and illustrates how they are used in various practical applications including model formulation, response analysis, and design. However, in view of the existing analogies, the methods covered in the chapter for mechanical systems can be easily extended to other domains. In studies of mechanical systems, three types of frequency transfer functions are particularly useful. They are Mechanical Impedance, Mobility, and Transmissibility. Two types of interconnection are possible for two components: series connection and parallel connection. The concepts of mechanical impedance, mobility, and transmissibility can be extended to other physical domains and to mixed systems in a straightforward manner. In view of the fact that force is a through-variable and velocity is an across-variable, the reciprocity property may be extended to any linear dynamic system in terms of a corresponding through-variable and a corresponding across-variable.
