Stochastic analysis of two dimensional nonlinear panels with structural damping under random excitation

Stochastic behavior of panels in supersonic flow is investigated to assess the significance of including the damping caused by the strains resulting from axial extension of the panel. The governing equations of motion are based on the Von Karman's large deflection equation and are considered with Kelvin's model of structural damping. The panel under study is two dimensional and simply supported for which the first order piston theory is used to account for the unsteady aerodynamic loading. Transformation of the governing partial differential equation to a set of ordinary differential equations is performed through the Galerkin averaging technique. The statistical response moment equations are generated for two modes using the Fokker-Planck equation with a Gaussian closure scheme. The response moments history and their steady state values are considered. Comparison with previous studies shows that the new nonlinear damping term developed through modeling has a significant effect on the response moments. This is verified through analysis of the effects of external pressure and in-plane force spectral density, air-to-structure mass ratio and structural damping ratio on the mean square value of modal amplitudes. (C) 2005 Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.