TRANSIENT VIBRATIONS OF CROSS-PLY PLATES SUBJECT TO UNCERTAIN EXCITATIONS

Transient vibrations of cross-ply plates are studied under loads with uncertain components using a nonprobabilistic model. The dynamic loads involve the forcing function and the initial conditions with determin istic and uncertain components. Uncertainty in these functions is requ ired to be bounded in the L(2) norm and expressed by a finite number o f eigenmodes. The specific forms of the uncertain functions are determ ined so as to yield the least favorable dynamic response. The theory i s illustrated with two numerical examples and the effect of various pr oblem parameters, and, in particular, the level of uncertainty on the response is studied.