Distributed (parameter) systems (DPSs) are the most natural and generic systems existing today. Dynamic characteristics of most natural structures, manufacturing processes, fluids, heat transfer, control, etc., all fall into this DPS category. In general, their dynamics or responses are functions of spatial and time variables, and the systems are usually modeled by partial differential equations. Common practice often discretizes these distributed systems, and their lumped approximations (discrete systems modeled by ordinary differential equations) are then analyzed and evaluated. Original (distributed) behavior can only be observed at these discrete reference locations.

The dynamics and control of distributed systems have traditionally posed many challenging issues investigated by researchers and scientists for decades. However, new R&D activities and findings on DPSs have not been systematically reported for a long while. This book aims to document recent progress on the subject and to bring these technical advances to the engineering community.

Distributed structures are often coupled to external discrete components in engineering applications (e.g., disk heads and tape drives). A new transient analysis technique is developed to investigate the dynamics of coupled distributed-discrete systems in Chapter 1. Transient responses of time-varying systems and constrained translating strings are investigated. Transient behaviors of cables transporting dynamic payloads and translating (e.g., magnetic tape-head systems) are thoroughly studied.