Parameter perturbation method for dynamic responses of structures with uncertain-but-bounded parameters based on interval analysis

The study was intended to evaluate the range of dynamic responses of structures with uncertain-but-bounded parameters by using the parameter perturbation method. The uncertain parameters were modeled as an interval vector. The first-order perturbation quantities of responses of the perturbed system were obtained through the parameter perturbation method, and then taking advantage of interval mathematics a new algorithm to estimate the response interval was presented. Comparisons between the parameter perturbation method and the probabilistic approach from mathematical proofs and numerical simulations were performed. The numerical results are in agreement with the mathematical proofs. The response range given by the parameter perturbation method encloses that obtained by the probabilistic approach. The results also show good robustness of the proposed method.