Dynamic Stiffness Methods for Free Vibration Analysis: A Scientometric Overview of Applications and Trends

DSM functions as a popular technique which provides accurate results alongside active performance in vibration analysis especially regarding challenging geometries and boundary conditions. This scientific analysis evaluates both research patterns and practical applications of DSM for free vibration analysis systematically. The evaluation concentrates on method advancement alongside its contributor recognition and new research analysis. The research extracted literature from Scopus between 2018 to 2025 while employing VOSviewer and Bibliometrix to perform scientometric analyses for keyword co- occurrences, bibliographic coupling, citation network study and investigation of international research ties. Research activities from China, India, and the USA show major findings in the field of DSM that concentrate on advanced materials and structural configurations and functionally graded materials and beams and shells and plates. The effectiveness of DSM has improved through the rising integration of symbolic computation and finite element analysis as advanced computational methods. The precision of the method still faces ongoing challenges while modeling complex structures because ongoing validation and algorithmic optimization processes are necessary. The study serves an important purpose by delivering a full assessment of the current state of DSM and steering research into new directions while promoting collaborative initiatives between different fields of study. The research results demonstrate that DSM serves as a vital tool in structural engineering yet demands better methodological developments and a wider spectrum of applications.