Dynamic Analysis of Uncertain Structures Using an Interval-Wave Approach

Due to the uncertainties of material, geometrical and load parameters, dynamic responses of actual engineering structures are uncertain. The paper investigates dynamic responses of uncertain frameworks by combining the interval method with the traveling wave method. The uncertainties of material, physical dimension and loads are firstly characterized by interval parameters. The waveguide and transmission equations of uncertain framework structures with interval parameters are then proposed based on the traveling wave method. The uncertain junction scattering equation is extracted from the force equilibrium conditions and displacement compatibility conditions and the interval form of dynamic responses are developed using interval arithmetic rules. Finally, the numerical examples including a single beam and a planar frame structure have been presented to verify the feasibility and validity of the proposed method.