Optimal Discretization of Random Fields

A new method for efficient discretization of random fields (i.e., their representation in terms of random variables) is introduced. The efficiency of the discretization is measured by the number of random variables required to represent the field with a specified level of accuracy. The method is based on principles of optimal linear estimation theory. It represents the field as a linear function of nodal random variables and a set of shape functions, which are determined by minimizing an error variance. Further efficiency is achieved by spectral decomposition of the nodal covariance matrix. The new method is found to be more efficient than other existing discretization methods, and more practical than a series expansion method employing the Karhunen‐Loève theorem. The method is particularly useful for stochastic finite element studies involving random media, where there is a need to reduce the number of random variables so that the amount of required computations can be reduced.