Equivalent Linearization for Continuous Dynamical Systems

Abstract

An approximate method is presented for determining the dynamical response of certain continuous nonlinear systems. In the proposed method, the system equation is linearized in the time domain prior to generation of a solution in the spatial domain. The approach is particularly suited to problems with complex boundary conditions which make selection of realistic global, spatial, domain comparison functions difficult. The approach is ideally suited to problems where discretization using finite elements is appropriate. The transverse response of a nonlinear rectangular plate is examined by way of the application of the proposed method.