Damped vibration mode superposition method for dynamic response analysis

In the dynamic response analysis of extremely complex structural systems in which the damping characteristics of each element are independent, the damping matrix is not always diagonalized by the use of undamped free vibration mode shapes. In the present paper, a mode-superposition method by the use of damped free vibration mode shapes is developed for such structural systems. It is also shown that the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) procedures, that are available for the dynamic response analysis of linear structural systems, are used effectively in this mode-superposition method with good accuracy.