Dynamic property analysis of the space-frame structure using the spectral element method

In this paper, the space-frame structure is analyzed using the spectral element method (SEM). It is periodic and composed of many geometrically uniform components. They can be considered as space beam-column elements. The spectral stiffness matrixes of the elements are established by using the variational method and the discrete Fourier transform theory. Then frequency responses of the structure are obtained by solving the spectral equations. In comparison with the results of the finite element method, those in the SEM are more accurate by taking less time, and the vibration bandgaps are observed from the responses of the structure. Moreover, the span, the substructure height, the substructure number, the material combination, the structural damping and the load location have obvious influences on the structural dynamic properties. These findings will provide the engineers with new ideas of the structural and the vibration isolation design.