Interval static displacement analysis for structures with interval parameters

In this paper, a new method to solve the uncertain static displacement problem of structures with interval parameters is presented. It is difficult to obtain all possible solutions with sharp bounds even if an optimum scheme is adopted when there are many uncertain parameters. With the interval mathematics, the interval finite element equation is developed. Based on the perturbation and the interval extension, the upper and lower bounds of the static displacements are obtained, in which the sharp bounds are guaranteed by the interval calculation operators. Two numerical examples, a box cantilever beam and an automobile frame, are given to illustrate the validity of the present method. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.