An effective locally-defined time marching procedure for structural dynamics

The present work describes a new time marching procedure for structural dynamics analyses. In this novel technique, time integration parameters are automatically evaluated according to the properties of the model. Such parameters are locally defined, allowing the user to input a numerical dissipation property for each element, which defines the amount of numerical dissipation to be introduced. Since the integration parameters are locally defined as a function of the structural element itself, the time marching technique adapts according to the model, providing enhanced accuracy. The new methodology is based on displacement-velocity relations and no computation of accelerations is required. Furthermore, the method is second order accurate, it has guaranteed stability, it is truly self-starting and it allows highly controllable algorithm dissipation in the higher modes. Numerical results are presented and compared to those provided by the Newmark and the Bathe methods, illustrating the good performance of the new time marching procedure.