Frequency Analysis in Stochastic Linearization

Abstract

This paper presents a frequency domain method to estimate the second‐order statistics of the response of complex hysteretic structures under stationary stochastic excitation. The nonlinear constitutive relations are dealt with by means of a stochastic linearization approach of an iterative nature. Since the first iteration has been accomplished, a criterion is established that allows location of the regions where inelastic deformations progress. Other regions of potential plastic behavior, which actually remain elastic, may thus be removed from the structural equation of motion with a tremendous computational advantage. Hinged frames and shear‐beam models are numerically investigated to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.