The book entitled “Transfer Matrix Method of Multibody System and its Applications” by the authors Professor Xiaoting Rui, Dr. Yun Laifeng, Professor Lu Yuqi, Dr. He Bin, and Dr. Wang Guoping is a thorough treatment of the subject. Starting from basic principles it leads in a systematic way to formalisms that enable readers to develop their own computer programs for treating dynamics problems of complex multibody systems composed of rigid and elastic bodies. Subjects of investigation are linear as well as nonlinear systems. In the case of linear systems one is interested in deformations under static loads, in eigenfrequencies and eigenforms, in steady‐state vibrations with periodic excitation and with damping, and in the response to non‐periodic excitation. By the method of discrete time transfer matrices nonlinear dynamics problems involving large motions of rigid bodies and large deformations of beams can be treated. The formalism presented aims at minimizing computation time so as to be applicable to very large systems.

The material is presented in 14 chapters that are divided into an introduction (Chapter 1) and in Parts I, II, and III. Part I (Chapters 2–7) is devoted to linear systems. Classical transfer matrices are formulated by various methods for basic elements of systems (point mass, spring, damper, rod under torsion, beam element) and for systems composed of such elements. Eigenfrequencies and eigenforms as well as the dynamic response to external excitation are discussed. Great room is given to the orthogonality of eigenforms. In Chapter 7 the relationship between transfer matrix and stiffness matrix is demonstrated for a finite plate element. Using the Riccati method incremental augmented transfer matrices are developed for systems of linear second‐order differential equations with forcing functions.

Part II (Chapters 8–11) is devoted to the method of discrete time transfer matrices for nonlinear multibody systems. The material is presented in steps of increasing complexity. Chapter 8 deals with systems composed of rigid bodies interconnected by spherical and revolute joints and Chapter 9 with combinations of rigid and flexible bodies (beams undergoing large deformations). Both chapters begin with planar motions before treating the general case of three‐dimensional motions. In Chapter 10 these methods are further generalized to include systems with control. In each of Chapters 2–10 the theory presented is illustrated by at least one non‐trivial example. Various numerical algorithms are discussed. Chapter 11 presents a list of transfer matrices for some of the most frequent elements (springs, simple joints, rigid body, rod, beam and plate elements, coordinate transformations, etc.) and, in addition, a library of discrete time transfer matrices.

In Part III, in Chapters 12–14 applications of the theory to three highly complex military systems are described in some mathematical detail and with comments on the importance and quality of results. The three systems are a truck‐based multiple launch rocket system, a tank with self‐propelled artillery (two‐phase interior ballistics and lateral vibrations of the gun), and a shipboard launch system.

The bibliography contains references to 360 Chinese and foreign books and articles. The book is 600 pages long. It is well organized. It is addressed to advanced students, researchers, and theoretically experienced engineers in practice.