Structural optimization design based on probabilistic and non-probabilistic reliability

The uncertain variables for influencing optimization design can be described as two kinds: probabilistic variables and non-probabilistic variables. For the probabilistic and non-probabilistic hybrid structural optimization problem containing random variables and interval variables, an optimization design method for the uncertain structure is proposed based on probabilistic and non-probabilistic hybrid reliability model. In this method, the impacts of the two kinds of unlertain information are considered. Through probabilistic and interval operations, the method can give an optimum solution under some constraint conditions. Two classical examples are compared with that of random reliability optimization design method. The result illustrates that the hybrid reliability optimization design method is effective. Based on the same uncertain information, two reliability optimization design methods have the same results, thus it indicates the proposed optimization design method is effective.