Nonlinear response of cylindrical shells to random excitation

An analytical study of nonlinear flexural vibrations of cylindrical shells to random excitation is presented. Donnell's thin-shell theory is used to develop the governing equations of motion. Thermal effects for a uniform temperature rise through the shell thickness are included in the formulation. A Monte Carlo simulation technique of stationary random processes, multi-mode Galerkin-like approach and numerical integration procedures are used to develop nonlinear response solutions of simply-supported cylindrical shells. Numerical results include time domain response histories, root-mean-square values and histograms of probability density. Comparison of Monte Carlo results is made to those obtained by statistical linearization and the Fokker-Planck equation.