Analysis of Non-stationary Response of Structures Due Toseismic Random Processes of Evolutionary Type∞

Seismic random processes are characterized by high non-stationarity and, in most cases, by a marked variability of frequency content. The hypothesis modelling 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 (nonstationary signals) is carried out by three methods. The resolution into Intrinsic Mode Functions (IMF) 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 conventional models and three variants of multicomponent resolution is given.