Hybrid analysis of uncertainty: probability, fuzziness and anti-optimization

This paper elucidates that for rigorous analysis of many engineering struct ures, three seemingly unrelated concepts, namely probability, fuzziness and anti-optimization, ought to be utilized. This is in order to take into acc ount the uncertainty in the actual values of the basic variables or on the models employed to evaluate the structure-expected behaviour. In this case, it is possible and reasonable to use the three paradigms in a combined man ner. Some examples are given to illustrate these ideas. (C) 2001 Elsevier S cience Ltd. All rights reserved.