Generalized Bouc–Wen Model for Highly Asymmetric Hysteresis

Bouc–Wen class models have been widely used to efficiently describe smooth hysteretic behavior in time history and random vibration analyses. This paper proposes a generalized Bouc–Wen model with sufficient flexibility in shape control to describe highly asymmetric hysteresis loops. Also introduced is a mathematical relation between the shape-control parameters and the slopes of the hysteresis loops, so that the model parameters can be identified systematically in conjunction with available parameter identification methods. For use in nonlinear random vibration analysis by the equivalent linearization method, closed-form expressions are derived for the coefficients of the equivalent linear system in terms of the second moments of the response quantities. As an example application, the proposed model is successfully fitted to the highly asymmetric hysteresis loops obtained in laboratory experiments for flexible connectors used in electrical substations. The model is then employed to investigate the effect of dynamic interaction between interconnected electrical substation equipment by nonlinear time-history and random vibration analyses.