Spectral density of a nonlinear single-degree-of-freedom system's response to a white-noise random excitation: A unique case of an exact solution (Q2564390)

A single-degree-of-freedom system is described by the equation \(\ddot y(t)+ 2\alpha\dot y(t)+ \Omega^2y(t)= \zeta(t)\), \(y>0\), which is valid between impacts at the barrier at \(y=0\). \(\zeta(t)\) is a zero-mean Gaussian ``physical'' white noise, and the impact condition at \(y=0\) is \(\dot y_+=-\dot y_-\), \(\dot y_\pm=\dot y(t_*\pm 0)\), \(y(t_*)=0\), where the subscripts ``+'' and ``\(-\)'' denotes values of velocity immediately after and before the impact. Using a special change of the state variable, the left side of the equation of motion remains linear, but a nonlinearity is present on the right side. In an examined particular case the Gaussian probability density for \(\zeta(t)\) can be calculated, and in this way the autocorrelation function of the original variable and the power spectral density of the response can be obtained explicitly. Properties of this latter -- using also a graph -- are studied.