ABSTRACT
Chapters 1 to 4 have introduced the dynamics of linear structural systems. By this, we mean ones whose physical properties and overall geometry do not change significantly throughout the dynamic loading event. Linear systems can be described by relatively simple equations with constant coefficients. They obey the principle of superposition, allowing the response to be split into components that can then be combined by simple addition, and they scale straightforwardly, so that doubling the amplitude of the loading will double the response.
