NONPROBABILISTIC, CONVEX-THEORETIC MODELING OF SCATTER IN MATERIAL PROPERTIES

Nonprobabilistic, convex modeling of uncertain material properties for viscoelastic structures is developed in this paper. In particular, th e problem of forced vibrations of viscoelastic beams is studied. First the analytic solution by Inman is generalized for a deterministic set of variables, describing material properties. Next, these variables a re treated as varying in a solid ''ball'' in the four-dimensional spac e, thus modeling the scatter in material properties. The least favorab le response needed for the design of the structure is determined.