An integrated modeling method of uncertainties: application-orientated fuzzy random spatiotemporal analysis of pipeline structures

The present study proposes an integrated modeling method to simulate probabilistic-and physic-informed representation of uncertainties in pipelines under fuzzy random spatiotemporal excitation for performance assessment. The fuzzy random response model is solved in general closed form according to the rigorous defi-nition of equations of mathematical physics to simulate the nonlinear mechanical behavior of realistic pipeline structures. The use of confidence level parameters with the alpha-level cut-off sets captures the model uncertainties quantitatively to identify fuzzy random variables on the response interval of the pipeline structures. The effec-tiveness and applicability of the proposed method are illustrated by numerical examples. The results demonstrate the representation of the uncertainty level of fuzzy random variables significantly impacts structural perfor-mance assessment. The proposed method is expected to be a general method for solving hybrid epistemic and aleatory uncertainties in the performance assessment of pipeline structures.