Question

A numerical approximate approach (such as FEM or CFD) is usually used to solve complex engineering problems.The uncertainties associated with such an approach is:

1. Aleatoric
2. Epistemic
3. Neither a. nor b.
4. Both a. and b.

Answer 1

FEM or Finite Element method is applied in engineering and physics for calculating the fluid flow; while CFD or Computational fluid dynamics deals with the analytical problems regarding the fluid flows.

The uncertainties associated with these numerical approaches of engineering problems are both aleatoric and epistemic;

hence the option 4 is the right answer.

Aleatory is a variable uncertainty that cannot be diminished; while Epistemic is subjective uncertainty that may be decreased.