Stability analysis of a multi-time step explicit integration method (Q1191090)

Multi-time step explicit integration methods allow to use in different parts of the finite element mesh different time steps: \(\Delta t\) and its multiple \(m\Delta t\). An algorithm is presented for these integration methods for solving problems of linear elastodynamics in structures, where large differences in material properties are found. An energy-like norm of the solutions proved to remain bounded for all time, and from this rigorous stability criteria for the time steps in terms of element frequencies are derived, presumably for the first time for second order systems.