Exact stationary solutions of the random response of a single-degree-of-freedom vibro-impact system

Abstract The problem of the response of a single-degree-of-freedom system with amplitude constraint on one side subjected to a random excitation is solved exactly. The Hertz law is used to model the contact phenomena between the mass and constraint during vibration. The excitation is limited to be a stationary white Gaussian process with zero mean. By solving the corresponding Fokker-Planck partial differential equation by separation of variables, the exact stationary solutions of the random response are obtained. The changes due to variations of contact stiffness are discussed.