Analysis of Nonlinear Stochastic Multibody Systems

Improved modeling of today’s technical problems often leads to nonlinear multibody systems. Additionally, in many cases external random disturbances are present and have to be considered in the analysis. Examples of this type of problem are vehicle-guideway systems, cf. [i], [2], [3], particularly wheel-rail systems for high-speed transportation. Commonly, only, the analysis of such systems is carried out using either Monte- Carlo simulation or equivalent statistical linearization methods, [4]. Both methods show severe drawbacks. The Monte-Carlo simulation is generally applicable. However, the procedure is very time consuming and the results have to be post-processed in order to receive the quantities wanted. In the equivalent statistical linearization method, assumptions have to be made about the probability distribution of the system response, and furthermore, possible limit cycles of the system are not regarded. Thus, attempts have been made to circumvent these drawbacks by modifying the statistical linearization method, cf. [5,p. 183ff].