Stochastic Response of Nonlinear Primary-Secondary Structural Systems to Earthquake Loading

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Most civil engineering systems consist of a heavy primary structure supporting a light secondary system. Examples include piping containment vessels in nuclear reactors, and equipment such as computers in buildings. This research project considers those structural systems in which both the primary and the secondary systems behave in a nonlinear manner. It considers special characteristics of secondary systems such as: tuning; time-varying nonlinear effects including a decrease in stiffness of the structure; and the influence on the assessment of the reliability of the system due to uncertainty in the system parameters. The analysis of parameter uncertainty will be performed using methods of structural reliability theory. The results of this research can be used to assist and interpret the results obtained from experimental and time-history methods. In addition, the research can be developed further in the analysis of secondary systems, such as in developing damage criteria and system identification techniques and investigating more general and complex nonlinearities. Finally, the research can be extended in other areas including the analysis of structures subjected to narrow-band earthquakes - e.g. the September, 1985 Mexico earthquake.