doi:10.3850/978-981-08-7619-7_P001

ABSTRACT

A gradient-free method is developed for finding the design point in nonlinear stochastic dynamic analysis, where the input excitation is discretized into a large number of random variables. This point defines the realization of the excitation that is most likely to give rise to a specific response threshold at a given time. The design point is essential information in the recently developed tail equivalent linearization method. The proposed approach employs a variant of the model correction factor method developed by O. Ditlevsen, which is further improved by use of a novel response surface technique. Example application to a hysteretic system demonstrates the efficiency and accuracy of the method.

Keywords: FORM, Non-linear stochastic dynamics, Structural reliability, Tail equivalent linea-rization method, Design point excitation, Model correction factor method.

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