Convexity analysis of the largest dependent eigenvalue functions of eigensystems

This paper presents and discusses the convexity of the largest eigenvalue f unctions of nonlinear structural eigensystems. The analysis is based on inv estigating the entries of the mass and stiffness matrices which are associa ted with the mixed finite element formulation. The mass and stiffness matri ces are symmetric positive definite and the entries of the mass matrix are continuously differentiable functions. The main emphasis of our contributio n is the derivation and the investigation of this analysis for the frequenc y dependent eigensystems. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserve d.