Computational Strategy for the Analysis of Assemblies Containing Interface Uncertainties C. Blanz´ e and L. Champaney LMT Cachan, ENS de Cachan/CNRS/Paris VI 61, av. du Pt Wilson - F94235 Cachan Cedex, France Claude.Blanze@lmt.ens-cachan.fr Laurent.Champaney@lmt.ens-cachan.fr Abstract We present a dedicated approach to the calculation of the random response of as- semblies whose interfaces have uncertain characteristics. The random response is developed using a Polynomial Chaos Expansion (PCE). A decomposition of the as- semblies into substructures and interfaces is used and associated with a dedicated computational strategy which leads to a local/global algorithm enabling the treat- ments of the substructure and of the interface problems to be uncoupled. Since only the parameters which appear in the interface equations are uncertain, this re- sults in a considerable reduction in computational cost. The proposed approach is compared with the Monte Carlo method and the direct Spectral Stochastic Finite Element Method (SSFEM). Key words: Stochastic Finite Element Method; probabilistic mechanics; Polynomial Chaos; assemblies; Monte Carlo simulation; uncertainties; interface; LATIN method; random response. Preprint submitted to Elsevier Science 6 November 2002