U C L A

Civil & Environmental Engineering Department

Presents

CEE 249 Seminar Series

Prediction of Load Capacities of Uncertain Assemblies of Structures

By Use of Statistical Tools and Accelerated Multi-Resolution Techniques

by

Dr. Laurent Champaney

Professor

Laboratory of Mechanics and Technology

ENS Cachan / University Paris, France

November 17, 2009

4:00 – 5:00PM

Kinsey Pavilion 1220B

Abstract

Taking uncertainties into account in the modeling of behavior of assemblies of structures is of great importance. The numerical prediction of the load capacities of assemblies of structures must then include statistical studies involving the resolution of a large number of problems corresponding to different design configurations with different values of the uncertain parameters. As the solution of one single nonlinear 3D problem is numerically costly, such statistical studies can be extremely long and require the use of efficient computers. The present work proposes an accelerated multi-resolution technique for the study of large number of design configurations. They are based on the use of a computational tool named LATIN method that allows a parallel resolution of nonlinear problems of assemblies of structures including unilateral contact and friction. The proposed numerical tools are coupled with statistical study programs that generate the design configurations and give the statistical information as an output.

Biographical Sketch: Dr. Laurent Champaney is a Professor at Ecole Normale Supérieure de Cachan and the University Paris 6, France. He is the former chairman of the Department of Mechanical Engineering of Ecole Normale Supérieure de Cachan. He's been teaching for more than twenty years in the field of structural mechanics and numerical methods. His research topics include structural mechanics, numerical methods, finite elements, uncertainties, dynamics, vibrations, control, contact mechanics, friction, reduced models, and composite materials.