In Stochastic Dynamics of Structures, Li and Chen present a unified view of the theory and techniques for stochastic dynamics analysis, prediction of reliability, and system control of structures within the innovative theoretical framework of physical stochastic systems. The authors outline the fundamental concepts of random variables, stochastic process and random field, and orthogonal expansion of random functions. Readers will gain insight into core concepts such as stochastic process models for typical dynamic excitations of structures, stochastic finite element, and random vibration analysis. Li and Chen also cover advanced topics, including the theory of and elaborate numerical methods for probability density evolution analysis of stochastic dynamical systems, reliability-based design, and performance control of structures. Stochastic Dynamics of Structures presents techniques for researchers and graduate students in a wide variety of engineering fields: civil engineering, mechanical engineering, aerospace and aeronautics, marine and offshore engineering, ship engineering, and applied mechanics. Practicing engineers will benefit from the concise review of random vibration theory and the new methods introduced in the later chapters. "The book is a valuable contribution to the continuing development of the field of stochastic structural dynamics, including the recent discoveries and developments by the authors of the probability density evolution method (PDEM) and its applications to the assessment of the dynamic reliability and control of complex structures through the equivalent extreme-value distribution." —A. H-S. Ang, NAE, Hon. Mem. ASCE, Research Professor, University of California, Irvine, USA "The authors have made a concerted effort to present a responsible and even holistic account of modern stochastic dynamics. Beyond the traditional concepts, they also discuss theoretical tools of recent currency such as the Karhunen-Loeve expansion, evolutionary power spectra, etc. The theoretical developments are properly supplemented by examples from earthquake, wind, and ocean engineering. The book is integrated by also comprising several useful appendices, and an exhaustive list of references; it will be an indispensable tool for students, researchers, and practitioners endeavoring in its thematic field." —Pol Spanos, NAE, Ryon Chair in Engineering, Rice University, Houston, USA

This volume contains eighteen selected papers presented at the Second International Conference on Stochastic Structural Dynamics, which are related to new theoretical developments in the field. This and a companion volume, related to new practical applications, constitute the proceedings of the conference, and reflect the state of the art of the rapidly developing subject. The conference was held in Boca Raton, Florida during May 9-11, 1990 hosted by the Center for Applied Stochastics Research of Florida Atlantic University. A total of 20 technical sessions were organized, and attended by eighty participants from 12 countries. Special emphases of the conference were placed on two areas: applications to earthquake engineering and stochastic stability of nonlinear systems. Two sessions were dedicated to the memory of late Professor Frank Kozin, one of the founders and most active contributors to the stochastic stability theory. We are indebted to the National Center for Earthquake Engineering Research (NCEER) for financial support. Most credit belongs to each of the authors whose contributions were the very basis for the undoubted success of the conference. We are grateful to the reviewers who carefully refereed the contributions for these two volumes. Our special thanks are due to Mrs. Christine Mikulski, who carried out all the necessary secretarial tasks associated with the conference with dedication.

This book contains a series of original contributions in the area of Stochastic Dynamics, which demonstrates the impact of Mike Lin's research and teaching in the area of random vibration and structural dynamics.

This book gives an overview of the current state of uncertainty modeling in vibration, control, and fuzzy analysis of structural and mechanical systems. It is a coherent compendium written by leading experts and offers the reader a sampling of exciting research areas in several fast-growing branches in this field. Uncertainty modeling and analysis are becoming an integral part of system definition and modeling in many fields. The book consists of ten chapters that report the work of researchers, scientists and engineers on theoretical developments and diversified applications in engineering systems. They deal with modeling for vibration, control, and fuzzy analysis of structural and mechanical systems under uncertain conditions. The book designed for readers who are familiar with the fundamentals and wish to study a particular topic or use the book as an authoritative reference. It gives readers a sophisticated toolbox for tackling modeling problems in mechanical and structural systems in real-world situations. The book is part of a series on Stability, Vibration and Control of Structures, and provides vital information in these areas.

For students and professionals, this covers theory and methods for stochastic modelling and analysis of marine structures under environmental loads.

Stochastic dynamics has been a subject of interest since the early 20th Century. Since then, much progress has been made in this field of study, and many modern applications for it have been found in fields such as physics, chemistry, biology, ecology, economy, finance, and many branches of engineering including Mechanical, Ocean, Civil, Bio, and Earthquake Engineering.Elements of Stochastic Dynamics aims to meet the growing need to understand and master the subject by introducing fundamentals to researchers who want to explore stochastic dynamics in their fields and serving as a textbook for graduate students in various areas involving stochastic uncertainties. All topics within are presented from an application approach, and may thus be more appealing to users without a background in pure Mathematics. The book describes the basic concepts and theories of random variables and stochastic processes in detail; provides various solution procedures for systems subjected to stochastic excitations; introduces stochastic stability and bifurcation; and explores failures of stochastic systems. The book also incorporates some latest research results in modeling stochastic processes; in reducing the system degrees of freedom; and in solving nonlinear problems. The book also provides numerical simulation procedures of widely-used random variables and stochastic processes.A large number of exercise problems are included in the book to aid the understanding of the concepts and theories, and may be used for as course homework.

This book is a revision of Stochastic Processes in Information and Dynamical Systems written by the first author (E.W.) and published in 1971. The book was originally written, and revised, to provide a graduate level text in stochastic processes for students whose primary interest is its applications. It treats both the traditional topic of sta tionary processes in linear time-invariant systems as well as the more modern theory of stochastic systems in which dynamic structure plays a profound role. Our aim is to provide a high-level, yet readily acces sible, treatment of those topics in the theory of continuous-parameter stochastic processes that are important in the analysis of information and dynamical systems. The theory of stochastic processes can easily become abstract. In dealing with it from an applied point of view, we have found it difficult to decide on the appropriate level of rigor. We intend to provide just enough mathematical machinery so that important results can be stated PREFACE vi with precision and clarity; so much ofthe theory of stochastic processes is inherently simple if the suitable framework is provided. The price of providing this framework seems worth paying even though the ul timate goal is in applications and not the mathematics per se.