Modeling of spatially varying structural uncertainties

Modeling of spatially varying uncertainties arising in structural engineering problems, like material or geometric properties, is addressed. Within a non-probabilistic framework, attention is focused on a novel interval field model based on the so-called improved interval analysis. The interval field is conceived as being able to quantify a form of dependency between adjacent interval values of an uncertain property that cannot differ as much as values that are further apart. Based on the properties of the improved interval analysis, a meaningful analogy between the interval and random field concepts is established. The response variability of Euler-Bernoulli beams with uncertain flexibility under deterministic static loads is analyzed. For comparison purpose, the uncertain property is modeled both as an interval and a stochastic field.