Question

If the mass matrix is non-diagonal, the coordinates of the system will have

• A. Dynamic coupling
• B. Static coupling
• C. Both static and dynamic coupling
• D. Neither static nor dynamic coupling

Hint:

Dynamic coupling arises from inertial cross-terms.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

In aerospace engineering, the mass matrix of a system characterizes how masses are distributed across different components. When the mass matrix is diagonal, each degree of freedom (DOF) is independently influenced by its corresponding mass, implying no interaction or coupling between DOFs. Conversely, a non-diagonal mass matrix introduces off-diagonal terms, representing the coupling between different DOFs. Specifically, this coupling affects the system's dynamic behavior. Therefore, when the mass matrix is non-diagonal, the system exhibits dynamic coupling.