Although the numerical properties of a step-by-step integration method can be evaluated based on the currently available techniques, there is still lack of a technique for evaluating its capability to capture dynamic loading. In this work, the amplitude error caused by the step discretization error is identified and the correlation between the relative amplitude error and relative step discretization error is analytically established. As a result, it is thoroughly confirmed that the asymptotic constant of the discretization error amplification factor for the displacement response to a cosine loading can be considered as an indicator of the capability to capture dynamic loading for a general step-by-step integration method.
