Modified precise direct time integration method for the transient response analysis of viscoelastic systems using an internal variable model

Abstract

Engineering systems for different levels of energy dissipation use internal variable models, which may lead to tremendous problems in accurate analysis. This article aims to provide an alternative direct integration method for the analysis of systems involving an anelastic displacement field model. A new state-space formulation built on an augmented set of anelastic variables for asymmetric systems is developed. Then, a precise time integration method based on state-space matrix formulation is proposed by introducing a Legendre–Gauss quadrature. The new integration method in terms of numerical stability and its implementation is discussed. The effect of sensitivity of the selection of the time-step and computational time on the performance of the new method is investigated by using a multi-degree-of-freedom system. The performance of the new method is also evaluated in terms of both computational accuracy and efficiency at higher degrees of freedom by using a continuum system. It is demonstrated that the computational accuracy and efficiency of the new method on large-scale problems are higher than that of the direct integration linear displacement–velocity method.