Hysteretic dampers in base isolation: Random approach

A method of random vibration analysis of base isolated structures with hysteretic dampers is employed. The hysteretic restoring force is modelled by a nonlinear differential equation. The equations of motion for shear type structures are linearized in closed form. Nonstationary response statistics for evolutionary nonwhite excitation are determined by solving the associated Lyapunov matrix differential equation. An optimization study which is based on the stationary response is also presented.