Contrasting probabilistic and anti-optimization approaches in an applied mechanics problem

Probabilistic and non-probabilistic, anti-optimization analyses of uncertainty are contrasted in this study. Specifically, the comparison of these two competing approaches is conducted for an uniform column, with initial geometric imperfection, subjected to an impact axial load. The reliability of the column is derived for the cases when the initial imperfections posses either (a) uniform probability density, (b) truncated exponential density or (c) generic truncated probability density. The problem is also analyzed in the context of an interval analysis. It is shown that in, the most important near-unity reliability range these two approaches tend to each other. Since the interval analysis constitutes a much simpler procedure than the probabilistic approach, it is argued that the former is advantageous over the latter in some circumstances.