A new approach for the stochastic analysis of finite element modelled structures with uncertain parameters

A method for evaluating the static response of uncertain finite element (FE) discretised structures is presented. The method is comparable with the perturbation procedures from a computational point of view, but it overcomes the drawbacks related to these procedures. In fact the present method gives excellent level of accuracy, even for high amount of uncertainties. Moreover, it produces the exact solution for statically determinate structures. The accuracy is remarkable even in the evaluation of high order statistics and probability density function of the response, so that reliability consideration can be drawn. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.