Random vibrations of stress-driven nonlocal beams with external damping

Stochastic flexural vibrations of small-scale Bernoulli–Euler beams with external damping are investigated by stress-driven nonlocal mechanics. Damping effects are simulated considering viscous interactions between beam and surrounding environment. Loadings are modeled by accounting for their random nature. Such a dynamic problem is characterized by a stochastic partial differential equation in space and time governing time-evolution of the relevant displacement field. Differential eigenanalyses are performed to evaluate modal time coordinates and mode shapes, providing a complete stochastic description of response solutions. Closed-form expressions of power spectral density, correlation function, stationary and non-stationary variances of displacement fields are analytically detected. Size-dependent dynamic behaviour is assessed in terms of stiffness, variance and power spectral density of displacements. The outcomes can be useful for design and optimization of structural components of modern small-scale devices, such as micro- and nano-electro-mechanical-systems.