Abstract: | An accurate algorithm for the integration of the equations of motion arising in structural dynamics is presented. The algorithm is an unconditionally stable single-step implicit algorithm incorporating algorithmic damping. The displacement for a Single-Degree-of-Freedom system is approximated within a time step by a function which is cubic in time. The four coefficients of the cubic are chosen to satisfy the two initial conditions and two weighted integral equations. By considering general weight functions, eight additional coefficients arise. These coefficients are selected to (i) minimize the difference between exact and approximate solutions for small time steps, (ii) incorporate specified algorithmic damping for large time steps, (iii) ensure unconditional stability and (iv) minimize numerical operations in forming the amplification matrix. The accuracy of the procedure is discussed, and the solution time is compared with a widely used algorithm. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |