Statistics of the von Mises stress response for structures subjected to random excitations

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Chen, Mu‐Tsang^; | Harichandran, Ronald

Affiliations: ANSYS Inc., 275 Technology Dr., Canonsburg, PA 15317, USA | Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA

Note: [] Corresponding author: Tel.: +1 724 514 3105; Fax: +1 724 514 3118; E‐mail: [email protected].

Abstract: Finite element‐based random vibration analysis is increasingly used in computer aided engineering software for computing statistics (e.g., root‐mean‐square value) of structural responses such as displacements, stresses and strains. However, these statistics can often be computed only for Cartesian responses. For the design of metal structures, a failure criterion based on an equivalent stress response, commonly known as the von Mises stress, is more appropriate and often used. This paper presents an approach for computing the statistics of the von Mises stress response for structures subjected to random excitations. Random vibration analysis is first performed to compute covariance matrices of Cartesian stress responses. Monte Carlo simulation is then used to perform scatter and failure analyses using the von Mises stress response.

Keywords: Random vibration, von Mises stress, Monte Carlo simulation, covariance matrix, failure analysis

Journal: Shock and Vibration, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 13-21, 1998