Computational Aspects of Time Integration Procedures in Structural Dynamics---Part 2: Error Propagation

Abstract

The propagation of computational error in the direct time integration of the equations of structural dynamics is investigated. Asymptotic error propagation equations corresponding to the computational paths presented in Part 1 are derived and verified by means of numerical experiments. It is shown that there exists an implementation form that achieves optimum error control when used in conjunction with one-derivative methods. No such form is found for two-derivative methods. A numerical beating phenomenon is observed for certain implementations of the average acceleration method and the trapezoidal rule, which from an error propagation standpoint, is highly undesirable.