Featuring outstanding coverage of linear and non-linear single degree-of-freedom and multi-degree-of-freedom systems, this book teaches the use of vibration principles in a broad spectrum of applications. In this introduction for undergraduate students, authors Balakumar Balachandran and Edward B. Magrab present vibration principles in a general context and illustrate the use of these principles through carefully chosen examples from different disciplines. Their balanced approach integrates principles of linear and nonlinear vibrations with modeling, analysis, prediction, and measurement so that physical understanding of the vibratory phenomena and their relevance for engineering design can be emphasized. The authors also provide design guidelines that are applicable to a wide range of vibratory systems. About The Author   Balakumar Balachandran Dr. Balachandran is an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Maryland, College Park, MD. His research interests lie in the areas of nonlinear dynamics, vibration and acoustics control, system identification, and signal analyses. Over the last nine years, he has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in dynamics and vibrations at Maryland. The publications that he has authored/co-authored include the 1995 Wiley Nonlinear Science Series graduate textbook APPLIED NONLINEAR DYNAMICS: ANALYTICAL, EXPERIMENTAL, AND COMPUTATIONAL METHODS. Dr. Balachandran has also contributed a chapter on Dynamics and Vibrations to the Prentice-Hall book AN ENGINEER'S GUIDE TO MATLAB, 2000. He serves on the Editorial Board of the "Journal of Vibration and Control." Edward B. Magrab Dr. Magrab is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Maryland, College Park, MD. He has conducted extensive research in the areas of vibrations and acoustics, and recently, his research efforts have focused on the integration of design and manufacturing. He joined the Department of Mechanical Engineering after spending more than twelve years at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Gaithersburg, MD, where he held several supervisory positions including Chief of the Sound Section. Prior to going to NIST, he was a Professor of Mechanics at the Catholic University of America, Washington, D. C. He has authored numerous journal publications and six books on subjects including vibrations, noise control, dynamic measurements, integrated design, and MATLAB. Sijthoff and Noordhoff published his graduate level textbook VIBRATIONS OF ELASTIC STRUCTURAL MEMBERS in 1979. Dr. Magrab is a fellow of ASME and a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Maryland.