Uncertainty quantification and propagation analysis of structures based on measurement data

Considering that excessive sample data points are needed in the probabilistic method, in this paper, two non-probabilistic methods are proposed for uncertainty quantification and propagation analysis based on the Gray mathematical theory and the information entropy theory. These two methods can give the interval estimation of true value from the framework of non-probabilistic theory under the condition of few sample points for the uncertain parameters. The uncertainty propagation analysis for the structural responses is implemented based on the quantification results of the uncertain structural parameters. Research on the comparisons of these two methods is performed by a plane truss structure with ten bars, and the numerical results show the feasibility and validity of the proposed methods. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.