Most mechanical systems can be considered as multibody systems composed of many rigid and flexible bodies jointed with hinges, in the fields of weapons, aeronautics, astronautics, vehicles, robots, and precision machinery. Development of the theory of multibody system dynamics rapidly in the recent 40 years has provided a powerful tool to study mechanical system dynamics. Various existing methods of multibody system dynamics have widely different styles; however, they have the following two same characteristics: (i) It is necessary to develop the global dynamics equations of systems. (ii) The order of the involved matrix of the global dynamics equations of systems is very high for a complex system, which makes the corresponding computational scale rather large. The classical transfer matrix method provides a simple and effective method to solve elastic structure mechanics problems for a one‐dimensional linear system, but it cannot be used to solve the problems of vibration characteristics of a linear multi‐rigid‐flexible system and dynamics of a general multibody system. The coupling dynamic action between rigid bodies and flexible bodies makes the eigenvalue problem of linear multibody system non‐orthogonal, which results in eigenvectors not satisfying the orthogonality in the ordinary sense. Now, the orthogonality of eigenvectors of a multibody system is a crucial requirement to analyze exactly the dynamics response of a linear multibody system with the classical mode method.

Having faced the abovementioned crucial problems at home and abroad in mechanical system dynamics, especially, in engineering, by creatively combining the transfer matrix method and modern computational methods, Professor Xiaoting Rui and his coauthors developed a new method for multibody system dynamics—the transfer matrix method of multibody systems in their monograph Transfer Matrix Method of Multibody System and its Application. The new method has the advantages of not requiring the global dynamics equations of system, high programming, low order of system matrix, and high computational efficiency. In the book, the study results of authors over many years are focused on, the concept and theory system of transfer matrix method of multibody systems are developed for the first time, and many creative research results are obtained. All methods developed by the authors of this book, such as transfer matrix method of linear multibody system, transfer matrix method of linear controlled multibody systems, and transfer matrix method of multidimensional systems, are expatiated systemically. The problem of rapid computation of the eigenvalue of a multi‐rigid‐flexible body system is solved, and the computational efficiency is improved greatly. The concepts of augmented eigenvector and augmented operator of multibody systems are presented, the orthogonality of augmented eigenvectors of multi‐rigid‐flexible body system is constructed for the first time, and the exact analysis of dynamics response of complex multibody systems is realized using the mode method. The discrete time transfer matrix method of multi‐rigid‐body systems, the discrete time transfer matrix method of multi‐rigid‐flexible‐body systems, the discrete time transfer matrix method of controlled multibody systems, and the mixed method of transfer matrix method of multibody system with other mechanics methods are developed respectively, and the rapid analysis of dynamics of complex multibody systems is realized using the transfer matrix method of multibody systems. These research results have been widely used to solve important engineering problems of every country with military power, such as, multiple launch rocket system, self‐propelled artillery, and shipboard gun. The rapid analysis and forecast of dynamic performances of complex large multibody systems in modern engineering are realized. Strict testing technology substituting non‐full charge loading rockets for full charge loading rockets in the testing of multiple launch rocket systems has been developed for the first time in the world. It has been directly verified that the technology is much better than the technology of Russia and other countries in the testing of multiple launch rocket systems. The firing dispersion of multiple launch rocket systems of national high‐tech engineering projects has improved greatly. Important economic benefits have been produced. This shows that the method has powerful functions and wide application foreground.

The fact that the authors took 15 years to write the book and to rewrite the manuscripts three times shows their scientific spirit. Many famous scientists and research organizations at home and abroad have supported and shown interest in the research works of the authors for a long time. Invited by Professor Werner Schiehlen, President of International Union of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics; Professor Jens Wittenburg, Head of Engineering Mechanics Institute in Karlsruhe University; and more than 10 other famous scientists, and supported several times by key projects of the German Research Council (DFG), Professor Xiaoting Rui, guest professor of 5 universities in Europe, has given over 30 invited academic lectures about the contents of this book in 14 universities and institutes in Europe. Some members of the academy of science and the academy of engineering of several countries, including China, America, Russia, Poland, India, and Austria, have given him high appraisal.

This book has great value in theory and practicality. I believe that the publication of this book will surely enable the development of multibody system dynamics in theory and application, and provide a new powerful tool for dynamics design of mechanical systems.