Closed-form solutions for the time-variant spectral characteristics of non-stationary random processes

Spectral characteristics are important quantities in describing stationary and non-stationary random processes. In this paper, the spectral characteristics for complex-valued random processes are evaluated and closed-form solutions for the time-variant statistics of the response of linear single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) and both classically and non-classically damped multi-degree-of-freedom (MDOF) systems subjected to modulated Gaussian colored noise are obtained. The time-variant central frequency and bandwidth parameter of the response processes of linear SDOF and MDOF elastic systems subjected to Gaussian colored noise excitation are computed exactly in closed-form. These quantities are useful in problems which require the use of complex modal analysis, such as random vibrations of non-classically damped MDOF linear structures, and in structural reliability applications. Monte Carlo simulation has been used to confirm the validity of the proposed solutions. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.