Hybrid analysis of uncertainty: probability, fuzziness and anti-optimization

This paper elucidates that for rigorous analysis of many engineering structures, three seemingly unrelated concepts, namely probability, fuzziness and anti-optimization, ought to be utilized. This is in order to take into account the uncertainty in the actual values of the basic variables or on the models employed to evaluate the structure-expected behaviour. In this case, it is possible and reasonable to use the three paradigms in a combined manner. Some examples are given to illustrate these ideas.