Application of stochastic finite element method to optimal design of structures

This paper presents an approach for extension of the optimal design method to include the structural uncertainty with the random parameters. The formulation is based on the perturbation method. A method of direct differentiation for calculating sensitivity coefficients in regard to the governing equation, the first-order perturbed equation, the second-order perturbed equation is derived. The numerical results are specifically noted, where the stiffness parameter and external load are treated as random variables. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.