ENME E4215: Theory of Vibrations
From vibrations to complex systems, master the fundamentals of structural dynamics.
Course Overview
This course offers a comprehensive introduction to structural dynamics, an essential area within structural analysis and design.
You will begin by exploring modal analysis, which forms the basis for dynamic analysis in contemporary engineering practice. You’ll examine single-degree-of-freedom systems under both free and forced vibration before advancing to analyze multi-degree-of-freedom systems and continuous systems. This thorough analysis of different systems will deepen your understanding of dynamic behavior in complex structures.
By the end of the course, you’ll have a solid grasp of the core principles governing the dynamics of structural systems. This knowledge will also prepare you for our advanced course in Earthquake and Wind Engineering.
Course Instructor
Raimondo Betti
Professor
Betti is a leading researcher in structural health monitoring - a field essential to the safety, maintenance, and rehabilitation of national infrastructure.
His research focuses on monitoring the structural health of buildings and bridges, with particular emphasis on rapid damage assessment. In the area of structural system identification, Betti is developing computer algorithms that use response data to create high-fidelity models which predict future behavior and detect structural damage in buildings and bridges. Betti has also pioneered a multi-sensor system that continuously monitors the cable conditions of suspension bridges. This data has enabled Betti and his team to develop methodologies for estimating the remaining strength and longevity of suspension bridge cables.
Betti holds a Laurea (Magna cum Laude) in Civil Engineering from the Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza” (1985), and an MS in Structural Mechanics (1988) and a PhD in Civil Engineering from the University of Southern California (1991). He is a member of the ASCE, serves on the Board of Governors of the International Association of Structural Control and Monitoring, and acts as Expert Advisor for Bridge Monitoring and Cable Corrosion for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. For his work on structural health monitoring of suspension bridges, Betti has been awarded the Aftab Mufti Medal by the International Society for Structural Health Monitoring of Intelligent Infrastructure (2017) and the ASCE Norman Medal (2024).