What distinguishes static loading from dynamic loading?

Static loading is characterized by loads that are applied slowly and remain constant over a period, or change very slowly relative to the system's response time. This means that the loading conditions do not vary significantly or quickly, allowing structures to respond without the effects of inertia being significant.

Dynamic loading, on the other hand, involves loads that vary rapidly with time. These can change due to factors such as vibrations, impacts, or moving loads, and they introduce inertia effects that can significantly influence the behavior of a structural system.

In this context, describing static loading as constant and dynamic loading as varying rapidly accurately conveys the essential distinction between the two types of loading. Static loading can typically be applied for longer durations, but the key aspect is that it does not have the rapid variations inherent in dynamic loading scenarios, which can lead to additional complexities in design and analysis for structures subjected to such loading conditions.