FREQUENCY-ANALYSIS IN STOCHASTIC LINEARIZATION

This paper presents a frequency domain method to estimate the second-o rder statistics of the response of complex hysteretic structures under stationary stochastic excitation. The nonlinear constitutive relation s 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 ine lastic deformations progress. Other regions of potential plastic behav ior, which actually remain elastic, may thus be removed from the struc tural equation of motion with a tremendous computational advantage. Hi nged frames and shear-beam models are numerically investigated to illu strate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.