Non-stationary response of structures excited by random seismic processes with time variable frequency content

Seismic random processes are characterized by high non-stationarity and, in most cases, by a marked variability of frequency content. The hypothesis modeling seismic signal as a simple product of a stationary signal and a deterministic modulation function, consequently, is hardly ever applicable. Several mathematical models aimed at expressing the recorded process by means of a system of stationary random processes and-deterministic amplitude and frequency modulations are proposed. Models-oriented into the frequency domain with subsequent response analysis based on integral spectral resolution and models oriented into the time domain based on the multicomponent resolution are investigated. The resolution into individual components (non-stationary signals) is carried out by three methods. The resolution into intrinsic mode functions seems to possess the best characteristics and yields results almost not differing from the results obtained by stochastic simulation. An example of the seismic response of an existing bridge obtained by two older models and three variants of multicomponent resolution is given. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.