On nonlinear stochastic vibratory systems with stiffness degradation

Summary In the paper a coupled response–degradation problem for a nonlinear vibrating system is analyzed. The analysis allows to account for the effect of stiffness degradation (during the vibration process) on the response and, in the same time, gives the actual stress values for estimation of damage accumulating in the system. The paper constitutes an extension of the approach (a sequential characterization of the degradation random process) presented in [4] to vibrating systems with nonlinear restoring term. Dedicated to Professor Franz Ziegler on the occasion of his 70th birthday