A study of the maximum transient response of simple fully yielding structures

Abstract

This thesis presents a report of an analytical investigation of the characteristic features of the transient response of fully yielding structures to a dynamic exciting force. The study was concerned with an estimation of the maximum possible peak-to-peak amplitude of simple idealised models subjected to pulses of a sinusoidal nature. The study was mainly centred around the maximum response of the single degree of freedom elastoplastic system and the effect upon it of viscous damping and a transition region between the elastic and plastic states. The extension of the approach to the two degree of freedom elastoplastic system was also investigated. The study was undertaken within the context of the earthquake engineering field. The investigation shows up certain basic characteristics of the transient response of fully yielding structures which appear to be common for widely varying types of exciting function. It also shows that the response of fully yielding structures to earthquake motions is probably a function of the characteristics of the largest pulses of an earthquake. A brief review of the study of the inelastic response of structures in the earthquake engineering context is also presented.