The stochastic central difference method in structural dynamics

Abstract The stochastic central difference method is introduced for the computation of response of complex structures, discretized by the finite element method, to stationary and nonstationary random excitations. The method can be regarded as the stochastic equivalent of the deterministic central difference scheme employed for the direct integration of the equations of motion of discretized structures in structural dynamics. A systematic procedure for the stability and accuracy analysis of the proposed stochastic central difference method is also presented. Applications and advantages of the latter are made and discussed.