Analysis of mechanical systems using interval computations applied to finite element methods

This paper addresses the problem of mechanical systems in which parameters are uncertain and bounded. Interval calculation is used to find an envelope of transfer functions For mechanical systems modelled with finite elements . Within this context, a new Formulation has been developed for finite elem ent problems involving bounded parameters, to avoid the problems of overest imation. An iterative algorithm is introduced, which leads to a conservativ e solution for linear mechanical problems. A method to ensure the convergen ce of this algorithm is also proposed. This new algorithm has been tested o n simple mechanical systems, and leads to a conservative envelope of the tr ansfer functions. (C) 2001 Academic Press.