Equivalent linearization of the Bouc-Wen hysteretic model

The smooth endochronic hysteretic Bouc-Wen model is studied from the point of view of random vibration. The sources of the errors of the method of equivalent linearization applied to this model using the hypothesis of joint Gaussian behaviour are examined. The method of linearization for softening hysteretic models proposed by the authors, which is based on a combination of Dirac and Gauss densities, is developed and applied to the Bouc-Wen model under a variety of conditions. It is shown that the method gives excellent estimations of the response statistics without increasing the computational effort required by the conventional technique. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.