Structural Reliability Analysis with Uncertainty-but-Bounded Parameters Based on Meshless Method

The structural reliability analysis with uncertainty-but-bounded parameters is considered in this paper. Each uncertain-but-bounded parameter is represented as an interval number or vector, an interval reliability index is defined and discussed. Due to the wide application of the Meshless method, it is used in structural stress and strain analysis. The target variable of requiring reliability analysis is estimated via Taylor expansion. Based on optimization theory and vertex solution theorem, the upper and lower bounds of the target variables are obtained, and also the interval reliability index. A typical elastostatics example is presented to illustrate the computational aspects of interval reliability analysis in comparison with the traditional probability method, it can be seen that the result calculated by the vertex solution theorem is consistent with that calculated by probability method.