[en] The objective of the described effort was the implementation of a linear elastic finite element structural analysis program version on a minicomputer operating system while maintaining (as much as possible) the general features of the original program. SAP-IV has been successfully implemented on a minicomputer operating system as one component in a portable vibration testing, data acquisition and processing, parameter identification and design optimization system for field work. The primary features in SAP-IV facilitating conversion and implementation on a minicomputer are: (1) the calculational procedures of SAP-IV are well documented and the subroutine structure easy to follow; (2) SAP-IV is organized in a highly modular fashion; (3) it is versatile with respect to its calculational options; and (4) the element library can be readily expanded. SAP-IV was installed on a Data General NOVA 32K memory disc operating system which utilizes various input-output peripherals and a single 1.2 megaword disc. The entire theoretical analysis-vibration test-data analysis-parameter identification-model modification system required such additional components as analog/digital converters, computer-driven electro-mechanical vibrators, a maximum of 512 transducers, and special-purpose software for test planning, execution, data processing, and matrix manipulation. The software system capabilities which allowed implementation of SAP-IV on the minicomputer were: (1) the availability of double precision; (2) the ability to use multiple OVERLAYs; (3) the ability to read and write programs from the disc to memory without destroying the programs (SWAP); (4) the ability to CHAIN a series of connected programs into the memory and execute them sequentially; and (5) the ability to utilize random access disc files