ON THE USE OF STOCHASTIC-MODELS OF UNCERTAINTY IN ACTIVE CONTROL AND STRUCTURAL OPTIMIZATION

This paper deals with applications of random uncertainty models in act ive control and structural optimization. Uncertainties are modelled vi a random fields that account for fluctuations of the physical properti es of the structure around the mean that is conversely deterministic, i.e. we adopt a pretty conventional approach. Unconventional are conve rsely the applications proposed. They extend classical results and too ls in stochastic optimal control and structural optimization to system s affected by uncertainties. A stochastic-based concept of optimality is set forth and the proposed designs are optimal with respect to this newly established criterion. Numerical studies on MDOF systems and ge nerally orthotropic plates complete the paper validating its theoretic al derivations. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.