Random Vibrations with Impacts: A Review

Analytical methods and specific results are presented for random vibrations of systems with lumped parameters and “classical” impacts whereby finite relations between impact/rebound velocities are imposed at the impact instants that are not known in advance but rather governed by the equations of motion. Emphasis is placed on the procedures using special piecewise-linear transformation of state variables that exclude the velocity jumps at impacts or makes them small if impact losses are present. In the former case, exact analyses for stationary probability densities of the response to white-noise excitation are possible, whereas the stochastic averaging method is applied in the latter case. Furthermore, the special case of an isochronous system permits a more profound response analysis, such as predicting the spectral density of the response or subharmonic response to narrow-band excitation. The method of direct energy balance is also illustrated, based on direct application of the stochastic differential equation calculus between impacts. Certain two-degree-of-freedom impacting systems are considered, with application to moored systems, as used in ocean engineering.