Distributed elements design methodology

Methodology. The methodology of the nonparametric probabilistic approach of uncertainties is as follows. (1) Developement of a finite element model of the designed elastoacoustic system. Such a model will be called the mean model (or the nominal model). (2) Construction of a reduced mean model from the mean model. (3) Construction of a stochastic reduced model from the reduced mean model using the nonparametric probabiUstic approach which allows the probability distribution of each random generalized matrix to be constructed. (4) Construction and convergence analysis of the stochastic solution. 

Levitin et al. (1998) and Levitin (2004) extends the Universal Generating Function (UGF) technique of the multistate system analysis to the format when the performance distributions of some elements depend on the states of other elements. This useful new heuristic methodology may be used by researchers and some designers. 

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