Stochastic finite element method for random temperature in concrete structures

This paper proposes numerical methods for random temperature field in mass concrete structures to research various kinds of random variability includi ng both random environmental temperature and random material properties. Fi rst presented, based on local average method of random field, are the formu las of random variational principle as well as the corresponding formulas o f stochastic FEM. Then discussed is the stochastic spectral response finite element method, given the complex frequency functions as random functions of material parameters, to resolve the effect of random environmental tempe rature. Finally, the Taylor expansion series is referred to simplify the no n-stationary process and suggest the corresponding formulas for the effect of random hydration heat of concrete. The paper demonstrates that these pro posed methods can help to study conveniently the random variability of temp erature, which could appear as both random processes and random fields in m ass concrete structures. Numerical examples calculated by the methods, theo retical and Monte-Carlo simulation are also provided. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.