Parametric study on variables modelling the structural response of a steel box subjected to an internal explosion

When applying Finite Element(FE) methods to practical engineering applications a number of assumptions are made about the geometric and material properties of the physical structure as well as the magnitude of the applied loads. Nominally, the assumption is that parameters of length, width and thickness, material yield strength and the applied loads are all known and are given an exact single value. However, in reality structures are fabricated and materials are manufactured to a tolerance and estimates are made on the magnitude of the applied loads. How significant these tolerances and estimates are to the deformation response of a structure are examined individually and in combination. The problem analysed is the structural response of a steel box subjected to an internal explosion. This paper shows how a marked difference can occur in the magnitude of the structural response when uncertainty of a parameter is represented by conservative and optimistic estimates of its minimum and maximum values.