A static analysis is sufficient if you are interested in the
long-term response of a structure to applied loads. However, if the duration of
the applied load is short (such as in an earthquake) or if the loading is
dynamic in nature (such as that from rotating machinery), you must perform a
dynamic analysis.
This chapter discusses linear dynamic analysis in
Abaqus/Standard;
see
Nonlinear Explicit Dynamics
for a discussion of nonlinear dynamic analysis in
Abaqus/Explicit.