CEE 5464 Structural Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering

This class covers the fundamentals of structural dynamics starting with single degree of freedom systems subjected to free vibration, harmonic loading, impulse loading, step loading, and arbitrary loading.  Then, students examine structural response to earthquake loading through dynamic response history analysis and using response spectrum analysis.  With that basis, the behavior and analysis of muti-degree of freedom (MDOF) systems is explored.  Students conduct eigenvalue analysis to determine natural frequencies of vibration and mode shapes.  The class culminates in the evaluation of MDOF analysis techniques by calculating and comparing the results from modal response history analysis, response spectrum analysis, and equivalent lateral force method.  The concepts of ductility and earthquake engineering are discussed at the end of the course.