Interval analysis method and convex models for impulsive response of structures with uncertain-but-bounded external loads

Two non-probabilistic, set-theoretical methods for determining the maximum and minimum impulsive responses of structures to uncertain-but-bounded impulses are presented. They are, respectively, based on the theories of interval mathematics and convex models. The uncertain-but-bounded impulses are assumed to be a convex set, hyper-rectangle or ellipsoid. For the two non-probabilistic methods, less prior information is required about the uncertain nature of impulses than the probabilistic model. Comparisons between the interval analysis method and the convex model, which are developed as an anti-optimization problem of finding the least favorable impulsive response and the most favorable impulsive response, are made through mathematical analyses and numerical calculations. The results of this study indicate that under the condition of the interval vector being determined from an ellipsoid containing the uncertain impulses, the width of the impulsive responses predicted by the interval analysis method is larger than that by the convex model; under the condition of the ellipsoid being determined from an interval vector containing the uncertain impulses, the width of the interval impulsive responses obtained by the interval analysis method is smaller than that by the convex model.

Vertex solution theorem for the upper and lower bounds on the dynamic response of structures with uncertain-but-bounded parameters

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the effects of uncertain-but-bounded parameters on the dynamic response of structures. By combining the interval mathematics and the finite element analysis, the mass matrix, damping matrix, stiffness matrix and the external loads are represented as interval matrices and vector. With the help of the optimization theory, we present the vertex solution theorem for determining both the exact upper bounds or maximum values and the exact lower bounds or minimum values of the dynamic response of structures, in which these parameters reach their extreme values on the boundary of the interval mass, damping, stiffness matrices and the interval extemal loads vector. Three examples are used to illustrate the computational aspects of the presented vertex solution theorem.