An inverse solution of the lifetime-oriented design problem

This paper presents a new solution of the lifetime-oriented design problem. This solution is based on a point-to-point allocation between the space of the design parameters and the space of structural responses. Each point in the space of the design parameters defines a feasible or non-feasible design, and all feasible designs guarantee compliance with a predetermined lifetime. From the set of feasible designs, one or more designs may be selected with the aid of technical or economic criteria. The presented solution permits the consideration of non-statistical data uncertainty, thereby leading to an uncertain lifetime. Because of the unavoidable information deficit, for example incomplete data in practical problems, the application of non-statistical data uncertainty is more realistic than the application of stochastic data models. The selection of feasible design variants is based on methods of explorative data analysis.