Vibrations

Abstract

Natural and man-made vibrations are widespread on Earth and in the depths of space. Vibrations affect our lives in a variety of ways ranging from the destructive forces of hurricanes and earthquakes to the modest forces involving machines with rotating parts. We usually think of vibratory motions as harmful but they can be used constructively to screen substances and to drive piles. Mechanical, aerospace and structural engineers are often concerned with high frequency vibrations of metallic parts of aircraft that could lead to premature fatigue failures with catastrophic consequences. Civil engineers are required to design buildings, dams, and bridges capable of withstanding both man-made and natural forces. These challenging tasks are just a few of the many examples where vibrational principles play a vital role. Frequently, engineers are required to creatively idealize and predict the response of engineering systems irrespective of the forces involved and before the systems are built.