The Lack-Of-Knowledge (LOK) theory for linear buckling analysis problems

As an extension of safety factors, the Lack-Of-Knowledge theory (LOK) is an answer to model validation issues in structural mechanics. The approach is based on a decomposition of the model into several substructures and a global description of uncertainties at that level through basic LOK on stiffness matrices. These uncertainties are introduced using intervals with probabilistic bounds. The theory then enables to propagate uncertainties on a quantity of interest. Previous work presented results for linear static and dynamic problems. We introduce in this paper a propagation method of the basic LOKs on buckling loads of structures and present its application on academical and industrial examples.