The fundamental concepts, ideas and methods underlying all vibration phenomena are explained and illustrated in this book. The principles of classical linear vibration theory are brought together with vibration measurement, signal processing and random vibration for application to vibration problems in all areas of engineering, and not merely in civil and structural engineering. This book guides the practising engineer in the performing of measurements and the interpretation of the results. Particular attention is given to the dynamics of structures, but the methods of analysis presented here apply readily to many other fields.
The reader will need a background in basic university-level calculus and matrix algebra. Some understanding of probability and statistics will also be helpful, although this is dealt with in a separate chapter on the analysis of non-deterministic vibrations.