Interval analysis for stress intensity factors

Traditionally, the effective method to solve uncertain problems is the probabilistic analysis method. In this paper, the stress intensity factors with uncertain parameters are estimated by the interval analysis method. The interval analysis method is based on interval mathematics and described all the uncertain parameters in terms of interval numbers. Then by means of Taylor series expansion and interval calculation, we can obtain the interval ranges of stress intensity factors. This method can provide creditable data for engineering applications. The interval analysis method is better than the traditional probabilistic analysis method in that it does not require a large number of prior statistical data about the uncertain parameters, and the method is simple, easily applicable and the results highly precise. Finally, the solution of two cases of crack is used to illustrate that the interval analysis method is more effective as compared with the traditional probabilistic method.