Global lumped‐parameter model with physical representation for unbounded medium

A systematic procedure to construct a consistent global lumped‐parameter model consisting of springs, dashpots and possibly masses with frequency‐independent coefficients connecting the degrees of freedom of the nodes of any structure‐medium interface for the unbounded medium is presented. The dynamic‐stiffness matrix is first diagonalized which then permits each term to be modelled independently from the others. Physical insight is thus provided. Alternatively, the (symmetric) static‐stiffness and damping matrices and possibly mass matrix of the unbounded medium can be established directly.