Random Vibrations Of Elastic Structural Systems

Addressing random vibration of mechanical and structural systems, this work offers techniques for determining probabilistic characteristics of the response of dynamic systems subjected to random loads or inputs and for calculating probabilities related to system performance or reliability.

The subject of random vibrations of elastic systems has gained, over the past decades, great importance, specifically due to its relevance to technical problems in hydro- and aero-mechanics. Such problems involve aircraft, rockets and oil-drilling platforms; elastic vibrations of structures caused by acoustic radiation of a jet stream and by seismic disturbances must also be included. Appli cations of the theory of random vibrations are indeed numerous and the development of this theory poses a challenge to mathematicians, mechanicists and engineers. Therefore, a book on random vibrations by a leading authority such as Dr. V.V. Bolotin must be very welcome to anybody working in this field. It is not surprising that efforts were soon made to have the book translated into English. With pleasure I acknowledge the co-operation of the very competent translater, I Shenkman; of Mrs. C. Jones, who typeJ the first draft; and of Th. Brunsting, P. Keskikiikonen and R. Piche, who read it and suggested where required, corrections and changes. I express my gratitude to Martinus Nijhoff Publishers BV for entrust ing me with the task of editing the English translation, and to F.J. van Drunen, publishers of N. Nijhoff Publishers BV, who so kindly supported my endeavours. Special acknowledgement is due to Mrs. L. Strouth, Solid Mechanics Division, University of Waterloo, for her competent and efficient preparation of the final manuscript.

The topic of Random Vibrations is the behavior of structural and mechanical systems when they are subjected to unpredictable, or random, vibrations. These vibrations may arise from natural phenomena such as earthquakes or wind, or from human-controlled causes such as the stresses placed on aircraft at takeoff and landing. Study and mastery of this topic enables engineers to design and maintain structures capable of withstanding random vibrations, thereby protecting human life.Random Vibrations will lead readers in a user-friendly fashion to a thorough understanding of vibrations of linear and nonlinear systems that undergo stochastic—random—excitation. Provides over 150 worked out example problems and, along with over 225 exercises, illustrates concepts with true-to-life engineering design problems Offers intuitive explanations of concepts within a context of mathematical rigor and relatively advanced analysis techniques. Essential for self-study by practicing engineers, and for instruction in the classroom.

Modern engineering materials subjected to unfavorable mechanical and environmental conditions decrease in strength due to the accumulation of microstructural changes. For example, considering damage in metals we can mention creep damage, ductile plastic damage, embrittlement of steels and fatigue damage. To properly estimate the value of damage when designing reliable structures it is necessary to formulate the damage phenomenon in terms of mechanics. Then it is possible to analyse various engineering problems using analytical and computational techniques. During the last two decades the basic principles of continuum damage mechanics were formulated and some special problems were solved. Many scientific papers were published and several conferences on damage mechanics took place. Now continuum damage mechanics is rapidly developing branch of fracture mechanics. This book is probably the first one on the subject; it contains a sys tematic description of the basic aspects of damage mechanics and some of its applications. In general, a theoretical description of damage can be rather compli cated. The experiments in this field are difficult (especially under multiax ial stress and non-proportional loading). Therefore, experimental data, as a rule, are scarce. Determination of functions and constants, which play a role in the complex variants of the theory, from available experimental data is often practically impossible. ix L.M. Kachanov The problems of damage mechanics are mainly engineering ones. Therefore, the author tries to avoid superfluous mathematical formalism. Some more details of the book's subject can be found in the list of con tents.

The most comprehensive text and reference available on the study of random vibrations, this book was designed for graduate students and mechanical, structural, and aerospace engineers. In addition to coverage of background topics in probability, statistics, and random processes, it develops methods for analyzing and controlling random vibrations. 1995 edition.

Annotation This text synthesizes a wealth of useful information for analyzing random vibrations and structures into one coherent body of knowledge. It takes a practical yet progressive look at two major fields related to random analysis: linear and geometrically nonlinear structures, and the behavior of random structures under random loads. System harmonics and oscillations, random functions, and the theory of random vibration are covered extensively throughout the text, which includes innovative methods for calculating the probability of failure for dynamic systems. Simplified examples demonstrate applications for daily use and present new approaches to failure analysis. The author evaluates the use of random process methods for the stochastic analysis of crack growth in detail, providing a better description of failures resulting from crack propagation. For young engineers, the book touches on finite element programs such as ANSYS and the probabilistic analysis program PROBAN, facilitating solutions to more complex problems. It also illustrates how to write a FORTRAN program to build a numerical procedure suitable for the design needs.

Focuses on the Basic Methodologies Needed to Handle Random ProcessesAfter determining that most textbooks on random vibrations are mathematically intensive and often too difficult for students to fully digest in a single course, the authors of Random Vibration: Mechanical, Structural, and Earthquake Engineering Applications decided to revise the cu