| Abstract: | A new rigorous approach in modelling mechanical behaviour is developed. The dynamic response of a rigid disc resting on an elastic half-space is approximated by a macroscopic force-displacement relationship, where not only the coefficients but also the order of time derivatives are complex valued. It is shown that comlex-parameter constitutive models are not simply an elegant alternative in modelling mechanical behaviour, but are the outcome of rigorous non-linear regression analysis on complex-valued functions, like the dynamic stiffness of dissipative systems. Complex-parameter constitutive models are very attractive since a minimum number of parameters is required to obtain a satisfactory fit of the ‘exact’ response. A two-parameter generalized Kelvin model reproduces closely the ‘exact’ dynamic stiffness of the disc for all three vertical, horizontal and rocking modes studied herein. Frequency- and time-domain algorithms to solve complex-order differential equations are developed, validated and used to calculate the foundation–response under earthquake excitation. It is the excellent agreement of results and the economy in number of parameters that make complex-parameter models so attractive in constitutive modelling. |
