My small knowledge of mechanical oscillations is limited to a bit here and there. I value your opinion about the oscillations = transients on the proposed space elevator which will be about 100,000 kilometers, one or two meters wide at geo altitude = 36,000 kilometers and perhaps one milimeter thick at Geo altitude where the tension will be thousands of tons. The ribbon is thinner and narrower near the ends = tapered. There is a one thousand tons (plus) counter weight at an altitude of about 100,000 kilometers and the anchor ship pulls down on the tether with an average tension of about 20 tons. ie how many days does it take increased tension at the anchor ship to be detected at 100,000 kilometers altitude? It is hoped that the ribbon can be 95% CNT = carbon nano tubes with about 5% binder. CNT is thought to be very elastic, so the ribbon may behave like an extremely long bungie cord. Keep in mind that Earth's gravity decreases as the square of the distance = 1/4 g at an altitude of about 6000 kilometers, and the entire ribbon circles the Earth each 24 hours. Neil