Generalized Variability Response Functions for Beam Structures with Stochastic Parameters
Publication: Journal of Engineering Mechanics
Volume 138, Issue 9
Abstract
A Monte Carlo–based methodology is introduced as a generalization of the variability response function (VRF) concept, applicable to both statically determinate and indeterminate beam structures with possibly large stochastic variations of parameters (bending stiffness or flexibility). This new methodology overcomes all limitations associated with the Taylor expansion-based VRFs used in the past. Two generalized VRFs (GVRFs) result from this methodology: a deflection GVRF and a bending moment GVRF. Numerical evidence indicates that these GVRFs are neither unique nor completely independent of the probabilistic characteristics of the random field modeling the variations of the bending flexibility. The GVRFs are found to be mildly sensitive to the non-Gaussian marginal distribution of this field, but are minimally dependent on its spectral density function. Taking advantage of this finding, a fast Monte Carlo–based methodology for estimating representative GVRFs is also introduced, significantly reducing the computational effort.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
This paper is based on the doctoral dissertation of the first author. The support of the Department of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, Columbia University, is gratefully acknowledged.
References
Arwade, S. R., and Deodatis, G. (2011). “Variability response functions for effective material properties.” Probab. Eng. Mech., 26(2), 174–181.
Babuška, I., Tempone, R., and Zouraris, G. (2005). “Solving elliptic boundary value problems with uncertain coefficients by the finite element method: The stochastic formulation.” Comput. Meth. Appl. Mech. Eng., 194(12–16), 1251–1294.
Bucher, C. G., and Shinozuka, M. (1988). “Structural response variability II.” J. Eng. Mech., 114(12), 2035–2054.
Deodatis, G. (1990a). “Bounds on response variability of stochastic finite element systems.” J. Eng. Mech., 116(3), 565–585.
Deodatis, G. (1990b). “Bounds on response variability of stochastic finite element systems: Effect of statistical dependence.” Probab. Eng. Mech., 5(2), 88–98.
Deodatis, G., Graham-Brady, L., and Micaletti, R. (2003a). “A hierarchy of upper bounds on the response of stochastic systems with large variation of their properties: Random field case.” Probab. Eng. Mech., 18(4), 365–375.
Deodatis, G., Graham-Brady, L., and Micaletti, R. (2003b). “A hierarchy of upper bounds on the response of stochastic systems with large variation of their properties: Random variable case.” Probab. Eng. Mech., 18(4), 349–363.
Deodatis, G., and Shinozuka, M. (1989). “Bounds on response variability of stochastic systems.” J. Eng. Mech., 115(11), 2543–2563.
Ditlevsen, O., and Tarp-Johansen, N. J. (1999). “Choice of input fields in stochastic finite elements.” Probab. Eng. Mech., 14(1–2), 63–72.
Elishakoff, I., and Ren, Y. (2003). Finite element methods for structures with large stochastic variations, Oxford University Press, New York.
Fuchs, M. B., and Shabtay, E. (2000). “The reciprocal approximation in stochastic analysis of structures.” Chaos Solitons Fractals, 11(6), 889–900.
Gray, R. M. (2006). “Toeplitz and circulant matrices: A review.” Found. Trends Commun. Inf. Theory, 2(3), 155–239.
Grigoriu, M. (1995). Applied non-Gaussian processes: Examples, theory, simulation, linear random vibration, and MATLAB solutions, Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ.
Kardara, A., Bucher, C. G., and Shinozuka, M. (1989). “Structural response variability III.” J. Eng. Mech., 115(8), 1726–1747.
Miranda, M. (2009). “On the response variability of beam structures with stochastic variations of parameters.” Ph.D. thesis, Columbia Univ., New York.
Miranda, M., and Deodatis, G. (2010). “On the response variability of beams with large stochastic variations of system parameters.” Safety, Reliability and Risk of Structures, Infrastructures and Engineering Systems: Proc., 10th Int. Conf. on Structural Safety and Reliability, ICOSSAR, Osaka, Japan, H. Furuta, D. Frangopol, and M. Shinozuka, eds., CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, 2641–2648.
Papadopoulos, V., and Deodatis, G. (2006). “Response variability of stochastic frame structures using evolutionary spectra theory.” Comput. Meth. Appl. Mech. Eng., 195(9–12), 1050–1074.
Papadopoulos, V., Deodatis, G., and Papadrakakis, M. (2005). “Flexibility-based upper bounds on the response variability of simple beams.” Comput. Meth. Appl. Mech. Eng., 194(12–16), 1385–1404.
Shinozuka, M. (1987). “Structural response variability.” J. Eng. Mech., 113(6), 825–842.
Shinozuka, M., and Deodatis, G. (1991). “Simulation of stochastic processes by spectral representation.” Appl. Mech. Rev., 44(4), 191–204.
Shinozuka, M., and Yamazaki, F. (1988). “Stochastic finite element analysis: An introduction.” Stochastic structural dynamics: Progress in theory and applications, S. T. Ariaratnam, G. I., Schuëllerand I. Elishakoff, eds., Elsevier, Amsterdam, 241–291.
Stefanou, G. (2009). “The stochastic finite element method: Past, present and future.” Comput. Meth. Appl. Mech. Eng., 198(9–12), 1031–1051.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
© 2012. American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Sep 6, 2011
Accepted: Feb 17, 2012
Published online: Feb 21, 2012
Published in print: Sep 1, 2012
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.