Probability Distribution of the Maximum Response of Structures Subjected to Nonstationary Random Earthquake Motion

Abstract

Presented are the results of a theoretical analysis of the statistical properties of the maximum structural response to nonstationary random earthquake motion. Two approximate methods were developed to obtain the probability distribution of the maximum earthquake response on the basis of the pure-birth process equation and the peak envelope distribution, which should be adopted alternatively depending on the range of the structural and excitation parameters. Also discussed is a concept of structural design for random earthquake loads on the basis of the numerical results.