Interval arithmetic and static interval finite element method

When the uncertainties of structures may be bounded in intervals, through some suitable discretization, interval finite element method can be constructed by combining the interval analysis with the traditional finite element method (FEM). The two parameters, median and deviation, were used to represent the uncertainties of interval variables. Based on the arithmetic rules of intervals, some properties and arithmetic rules of interval variables were demonstrated. Combining the procedure of interval analysis with FEM, a static linear interval finite element method was presented to solve the non-random uncertain structures. The solving of the characteristic parameters of n-freedom uncertain displacement field of the static governing equation was transformed into 2 n-order linear equations. It is shown by a numerical example that the proposed method is practical and effective.