Noise-induced transitions in moored ocean structural responses

Noise-induced transitions in nonlinear responses of a submerged moored structure are investigated from both global stability and probability points of view. The analysis procedure includes a stochastic Melnikov process to identify potential chaotic domains, and the Fokker-Planck equation to investigate and demonstrate response probabilistic characteristics. With the presence of weak perturbations, highly nonlinear phenomena including coexistence of attractors and chaos are found to exist. It is indicated that the presence of noise expands the potential chaotic domain in the parameter space and causes transitions between coexisting responses, which may not occur otherwise.