Moment-Based Translation Model for Hardening Non-Gaussian Response Processes

The translation process theory has widely been used in assessing extreme and fatigue damage of stochastic non-Gaussian response processes. It relates a non-Gaussian process to an underlying Gaussian process through a monotonic translation function. For softening non-Gaussian processes with kurtosis larger than three, the Hermite polynomials model has been used in those situations in which the model coefficients are determined from the skewness and kurtosis of the process with closed-form formulations. This study presents a moment-based translation model for hardening non-Gaussian processes with kurtosis less than three. Closed-form formulations for determining the model coefficients in terms of skewness and kurtosis are presented. The accuracy and limitations of moment-based translation model in representing non-Gaussian processes are also discussed. The proposed moment-based translation model facilitates the analysis of extreme and fatigue of hardening non-Gaussian processes. (C) 2015 American Society of Civil Engineers.