A simplified calculation method for non-stationary random seismic response of jacket platform

Jacket platform was simulated by non-uniform cantilever beam subjected to axial loading. Based on the Hamilton theory, the equation of bending motion was developed and solved by the classical Ritz method combined with the pseudo-excitation method (PEM) for non-stationary random response with non-classical damping. Usually, random response of this continuous structure is obtained by orthogonality of modes and some normal modes of the structure are needed, causing inconvenience in the analysis of the non-uniform beam whose normal modes are not easy to be obtained. However, if the PEM is extended to calculate random respouse by combining it with the classical Ritz method, the responses of non-uniform beam, such as auto-power spectral density (PSD) function, croes-PSD and higher spectral moments can be solved directly avoiding the calculation of normal modes. The numerical results show that the present method is effective and useful in aseismic design of platforms.