Design criteria for dissipative devices in coupled oscillators under seismic excitation

Design criteria for a visco-elastic connection of two simple oscillators under seismic excitation are proposed. The dissipative connection is described by Kelvin–Voigt rheological model. The features of the selected criteria are explored for the system parameter set based on the analytical solutions of the associated eigenvalue problem and to the closed-form solutions of the stochastic system response. Design maps are drawn in the nondimensional space of the relevant system parameters in which a direct comparison of the obtained design values is possible. Furthermore, performance indices are used to assess the response of the two simple coupled oscillators subject to natural excitation to demonstrate the robustness with respect to nonstationary excitation.