Stochastic optimal control of hysteretic systems under externally and parametrically random excitations

A stochastic optimal control method for nonlinear hysteretic systems under externally and/or parametrically random excitations is presented and illustrated with an example of hysteretic column system. A hysteretic system subject to random excitation is first replaced by a nonlinear non-hysteretic stochastic system. An Ito stochastic differential equation for the total energy of the system as a one-dimensional controlled diffusion process is derived by rising the stochastic averaging method of energy envelope. A dynamical programming equation is then established based on the stochastic dynamical programming principle and solved to yield the optimal control force. Finally, the responses of uncontrolled and controlled systems are evaluated to determine the control efficacy. It is shown by numerical results that the proposed stochastic optimal control method is more effective and efficient than other optimal control methods.