A travelling wave approach to power flow in structural networks

Abstract A structural network is an assemblage of slender one-dimensional members. Each member is demarcated, by definition, by two junctions. A junction may involve only one member (a termination) or may be an interconnection of many members. In this paper, computationally and theoretically, the dynamics of such networks are investigated. The focus of the analysis is on elastic disturbance propagation and power flow in the networks. Spatially local models are assembled into a global, frequency domain description. This global description of the response is then investigated for local and global power flow. The procedures serves to identify disturbance transmission paths and to choose and evaluate control procedures, both active and passive. The techniques are demonstrated by application to several examples.