A method of response analysis of inelastic structures under nonstationary random excitation is presented. Emphasis is on realistic consideration of the time-varying intensity and frequency content of the excitation, detailed nonlinear response behavior of the structural frame, and computational efficiency of the method such that it can be applied to response and safety evaluation of real structural systems. The method is verified by comparison of results with detailed time history analyses of inelastic structural frames and Monte Carlo simulation. Examples on application to reliability evaluation of steel buildings designed according to current code procedures are given.
