• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.86 no.3
• /
• pp.349-359
• /
• 2023

This paper presents a technique for determining the optimal number of elements in stochastic finite element analysis based on reliability analysis. Using the change-of-variable perturbation stochastic finite element approach, the probability density function of the dynamic responses of stochastic structures is explicitly determined. This method combines the perturbation stochastic finite element method with the change-of-variable technique into a united model. To further examine the relationships between the random fields, discretization of the random field parameters, such as the variance function and the scale of fluctuation, is also performed. Accordingly, the reliability index is calculated based on the explicit probability density function of responses with Gaussian or non-Gaussian random fields in any number of elements corresponding to the random field discretization. The numerical examples illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method for a one-dimensional cantilever reinforced concrete column and a two-dimensional steel plate shear wall. The benefit of this method is that the probability density function of responses can be obtained explicitly without the use simulation techniques. Any type of random variable with any statistical distribution can be incorporated into the calculations, regardless of the restrictions imposed by the type of statistical distribution of random variables. Consequently, this method can be utilized as a suitable guideline for the efficient implementation of stochastic finite element analysis of structures, regardless of the statistical distribution of random variables.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.129-144
• /
• 2008

This paper demonstrates an application of the perturbation based stochastic finite element method (SFEM) for predicting the performance of structural systems made of composite sections with random material properties. The composite member consists of materials in contact each of which can surround a finite number of inclusions. The perturbation based stochastic finite element analysis can provide probabilistic behavior of a structure, only the first two moments of random variables need to be known, and should therefore be suitable as an alternative to Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) for realizing structural analysis. A summary of stiffness matrix formulation of composite systems and perturbation based stochastic finite element dynamic analysis formulation of structural systems made of composite sections is given. Two numerical examples are presented to illustrate the method. During stochastic analysis, displacements and sectional forces of composite systems are obtained from perturbation and Monte Carlo methods by changing elastic modulus as random variable. The results imply that perturbation based SFEM method gives close results to MCS method and it can be used instead of MCS method, especially, if computational cost is taken into consideration.

• Journal of Ship and Ocean Technology
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.1-15
• /
• 2008

The main idea of this paper introduce stochastic structural parameters and random dynamic excitation directly into the dynamic functional variational formulations, and developed the nonlinear dynamic analysis of a stochastic variational principle and the corresponding stochastic finite element method via the weighted residual method and the small parameter perturbation technique. An interpolation method was adopted, which is based on representing the random field in terms of an interpolation rule involving a set of deterministic shape functions. Direct integration Wilson-${\theta}$ Method was adopted to solve finite element equations. Numerical examples are compared with Monte-Carlo simulation method to show that the approaches proposed herein are accurate and effective for the nonlinear dynamic analysis of structures with random parameters.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
• /
• 1999.07a
• /
• pp.200-202
• /
• 1999

A method of stochastic finite element analysis is developed for yield a uncertainty of engineering problems. Where, a stochastic finite-element method for shapes modeling is proposed a6 a means to solve the models with the uncertainty and variety. This method is based on the probability and illustrated by a first-Order Second-Moment Method and considering the covariance of random variables. The validity and accuracy of the stochastic finite element method is verified through comparing with those solved by the conventional 2-D finite element method.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.432-446
• /
• 1996

A stochastic Hamilton variational principle(SHVP) is formulated for dynamic problems of linear continuum. The SHVP allows incorporation of probabilistic distributions into the finite element analysis. The formulation is simplified by transformation of correlated random variables to a set of uncorrelated random variables through a standard eigenproblem. A procedure based on the Fourier analysis and synthesis is presented for eliminating secularities from the perturbation approach. In addition to, a method to analyse stochastic design sensitivity for structural dynamics is present. A combination of the adjoint variable approach and the second order perturbation method is used in the finite element codes. An alternative form of the constraint functional that holds for all times is introduced to consider the time response of dynamic sensitivity. The algorithms developed can readily be adapted to existing deterministic finite element codes. The numerical results for stochastic analysis by proceeding approach of cantilever, 2D-frame and 3D-frame illustrates in this paper.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.9 no.6
• /
• pp.499-518
• /
• 2009

The present paper investigates the stochastic seismic responses of steel structure systems with Partially Restrained (PR) connections by using Perturbation based Stochastic Finite Element (PSFEM) method. A stiffness matrix formulation of steel systems with PR connections and PSFEM and MCS formulations of structural systems are given. Based on the formulations, a computer program in FORTRAN language has been developed, and stochastic seismic analyses of steel frame and bridge systems have been performed for different types of connections. The connection parameters, material and geometrical properties are assumed to be random variables in the analyses. The Kocaeli earthquake occurred in 1999 is considered as a ground motion. The connection parameters, material and geometrical properties are considered to be random variables. The efficiency and accuracy of the proposed SFEM algorithm are validated by comparison with results of Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) method.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.62 no.6
• /
• pp.703-708
• /
• 2017

The goal of this study is to evaluate behavior uncertainties of structures by using interval finite element analysis based on interval factor method as a specific non-stochastic tool. The interval finite element method, i.e., interval FEM, is a finite element method that uses interval parameters in situations where it is not possible to get reliable probabilistic characteristics of the structure. The present method solves the uncertainty problems of a 2D solid structure, in which structural characteristics are assumed to be represented as interval parameters. An interval analysis method using interval factors is applied to obtain the solution. Numerical applications verify the intuitive effectiveness of the present method to investigate structural uncertainties such as displacement and stress without the application of probability theory.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.82 no.1
• /
• pp.31-40
• /
• 2022

In structural engineering, the material properties of the structures such as elastic modulus, shear modulus, density, and size may not be deterministic and may vary at different locations. The dynamic response analysis of such structures may need to consider these properties as stochastic. This paper introduces a stochastic finite element method (SFEM) approach to analyze moving loads problems. Firstly, Karhunen-Loéve expansion (KLE) is applied for expressing the stochastic field of material properties. Then the mathematical expression of the random field is substituted into the finite element model to formulate the corresponding random matrix. Finally, the statistical moment of the dynamic response is calculated by the point estimation method (PEM). The accuracy and efficiency of the dynamic response obtained from the KLE-PEM are demonstrated by the example of a moving load passing through a simply supported Euler-Bernoulli beam, in which the material properties (including elastic modulus and density) are considered as random fields. The results from the KLE-PEM are compared with those from the Monte Carlo simulation. The results demonstrate that the proposed method of KLE-PEM has high accuracy and efficiency. By using the proposed SFEM, the random vertical deflection of a high-speed railway (HSR) bridge is analyzed by considering the random fields of material properties under the moving load of a train.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.29 no.5
• /
• pp.469-488
• /
• 2008

Finite element methods have often been used for structural analyses of various mechanical problems. When finite element analyses are utilized to resolve mechanical systems, numerical uncertainties in the initial data such as structural parameters and loading conditions may result in uncertainties in the structural responses. Therefore the initial data have to be as accurate as possible in order to obtain reliable structural analysis results. The typical finite element method may not properly represent discrete systems when using uncertain data, since all input data of material properties and applied loads are defined by nominal values. An interval finite element analysis, which uses the interval arithmetic as introduced by Moore (1966) is proposed as a non-stochastic method in this study and serves a new numerical tool for evaluating the uncertainties of the initial data in structural analyses. According to this method, the element stiffness matrix includes interval terms of the lower and upper bounds of the structural parameters, and interval change functions are devised. Numerical uncertainties in the initial data are described as a tolerance error and tree graphs of uncertain data are constructed by numerical uncertainty combinations of each parameter. The structural responses calculated by all uncertainty cases can be easily estimated so that structural safety can be included in the design. Numerical applications of truss and frame structures demonstrate the efficiency of the present method with respect to numerical analyses of structural uncertainties.

• Magazine of the Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
• /
• v.32 no.E
• /
• pp.59-66
• /
• 1990

Abstract The formulation of the probabilistic finite element method was briefly reviewed. The method was implemented into a computer program for frame analysis which has the same analogy as finite element analysis. Another program for Monte Carlo simulation of finite element analysis was written. Two sample structures were assumed and analized. The characteristics of the second moment statistics obtained by the probabilistic finite element method was examined through numerical studies. The applicability and limitation of the method were also evaluated in comparison with the data generated by Monte Carlo simulation.