Stochastic response of structures with small geometric imperfections

Summary A probabilistic model of the geometric imperfections of a real structure is proposed, in order to provide a general theory of the stochastic response of structures in presence of small random deviations from the perfect scheme. The main statistical measures of the stochastic response are derived and an application to the study of a particular conservative elastic system is developed.

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Sommario Si propone una teoria generale della risposta probabilistica di strutture, in presenza di piccole deviazioni aleatorie dei dati iniziali rispetto allo schema geometrico perfetto. Si deducono le principali proprietà statistiche della risposta della struttura a sollecitazioni esterne deterministiche, e si sviluppa una applicazione riguardante il comportamento aleatorio di un particolare sistema elastico conservativo.

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List of symbols element of the sample space of events - _kn random variables modelling the structural imperfections - P(o) probability density of random variables - random imperfection of the unloaded structure - u additional displacement of the loaded structure - u_o deterministic fundamental solution for the perfect structure - difference between the additional displacement of the loaded structure and the deterministic fundamental solution for the perfect structure - V₁=u₁ buckling mode of the perfect structure - _i intrinsic coordinates of the structure - suitable measure of the magnitude of the random imperfections - scalar geometric variable representing the internal product - random imperfection divided by - single scalar variable denoting the magnitude of the prescribed loads - potential energy of the structure - potential energy of the perfect structure - difference between and - _c lowest critical load - _s real local maximum for the magnitude of the prescribed loads - _c divided by _S - E{} expected value of a random variable - ² variance of a random variable - , random variables defined by Eq. (21)