Probabilistic and Interval Static Response Analysis of Truss Structures with Uncertain Parameters

This paper presents the random factor method (RFM) and interval factor method (IFM) for the static analysis of truss structures with uncertainty. From the static governing equations of finite element method, the computational expressions for the mean value and standard deviation of structural displacement and stress are developed by using the RFM. The computational expressions for the lower and upper bounds of structural static response are also derived by means of the interval operations when system parameters are interval variables. The effect of uncertainty of individual structural parameters and loads on structural static response is demonstrated by truss structures.