Hybrid probabilistic interval dynamic analysis of vehicle–bridge interaction system with uncertainties

This paper presents the hybrid probabilistic interval dynamic analysis of vehicle–bridge interaction system with a mixture of random and interval properties. The vehicle's parameters are considered as interval variables and the bridge's parameters are treated as random variables. A half car model is used to represent a moving vehicle and the bridge is modeled as a simply supported Euler–Bernoulli beam. By introducing the random interval moment method (RIMM) into the dynamic analysis of vehicle–bride interaction system, the expressions for the mean value and standard deviation of the random interval bridge dynamic response are developed. The midpoint and interval width of the first two statistical moments are then determined. Examples are used to illustrate the effectiveness of the presented method. A hybrid simulation method combining direct simulations for interval variables and Monte Carlo simulations for random variables is implemented to validate the computational results. The effects of individual system parameters on bridge response are also investigated.