Fuzzy analysis as alternative to stochastic methods – theoretical aspects

A realistic and reliable numerical simulation demands suitable computational models and applicable data models for the structural design parameters. Structural design parameters are in general nondeterministic, i.e. uncertain. The choice of an appropriate uncertainty model for describing selected structural design parameters depends on the characteristic of the available information. Besides the most often used probabilistic models and the related stochastic analysis techniques newer uncertainty models offer the chance taking account of non-stochastic uncertainty that frequently appears in engineering problems. The uncertainty model fuzziness and the algorithm of the fuzzy structural analysis is presented in this paper. The uncertainty quantification of real-world data for the uncertainty models fuzziness and randomness is discussed by the way of examples. The differences and advantages of uncertainty models randomness and fuzziness and its simulation techniques are addressed.