A computational implementation of modal analysis of continuous systems is presented. Modal analysis of truss, beam and shaft structures is developed in Matlab®. A numerical and an analytical method are developed for the computation of mode shapes, natural frequencies and modal equations of continuous structures using the method of separation of variables. Time domain techniques are programmed in modular functions for structural analysis. The functions constitute a set of tools of the Structural Analysis Toolbox (SAT-Lab), developed recently for teaching modelling, analysis and design of structures and mechanical systems. Application examples of the computational tools are presented.
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