Analog Simulation of a Bilinear Hysteretic System Undergoing Random Vibration

Abstract

An analog computer simulation is used to substantiate an equivalent linearization analysis of a bilinear hysteretic system undergoing random vibration. An interpretation of the physical behavior of the system is presented. Quantities useful in failure prediction—the average level crossing rate and the probability distribution of the displacement—are also measured, and it is shown that the hysteretic system can have a longer life than a linear system based on a low level approximation.