DYNAMIC STABILITY OF STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS SUBJECTED TO BASE EXCITATION

The design of civil structures to assure stability is generally carrie d out within the framework of static stability analysis, even when the expected excitation scenario involves dynamic response, We explore th e issues of dynamic stability of inelastic systems subject to base mot ion by examining a single degree-of-freedom model problem. This paper gives a general overview of the dynamic stability problem, The particu lar phenomena addressed include the connection between static and dyna mic stability, parametric resonance, inelastic stability of systems su bjected to impulse energy, and inelastic stability of systems that exp erience damage associated with cumulative energy dissipation and extre me distortion, We conclude that dynamic stability of structures is as much an issue of serviceability as it is strength. The simple systems explored in this paper should shed some light on the general problem o f dynamic stability of structures subjected to earthquake ground motio ns. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.