Saint-Venant’s Principle in Dynamics of Structures

Abstract

Research studies aiming at examination and formulation of a dynamic analog to Saint-Venant’s principle (DSVP) are critically reviewed. Article concentrates on isotropic homogeneous linear elastic response over a range of structural geometries including waveguides, with either free or constrained lateral surfaces, half space, wedges and cones. Nearly 140 DSVP related references are covered starting with early ideas by Boley. A special chapter is dedicated to available experimental work on end effects and decay rate in dynamically excited structures. Current thinking on possible versions of DSVP is classified into several categories, one of which, the dynamic equivalence, is compatible with much of known experimental data and has been tacitly applied at various engineering situations. That observation provides inspiring ground for renewed interest in both practical and theoretical aspects of DSVP.