Perfect structural periodicity is disturbed in presence of imperfections. The present paper is based on a realistic modeling of imperfections, using uncertainties, to investigate the robustness of the collective nonlinear dynamics of a periodic coupled pendulums chain. A generic discrete analytical model combining multiple scales method and standing-wave decomposition is proposed. To propagate uncertainties through the established model, the generalized Polynomial Chaos Expansion is used and compared to the Latin Hypercube Sampling method. Effects of uncertainties are investigated on the stability and nonlinearity of two and three coupled pendulums chains. Results prove the satisfying approximation given by the generalized Polynomial Chaos Expansion for a significantly reduced computational time, with respect to the Latin Hypercube Sampling method. Dispersion analysis of the frequency responses show that the nonlinear aspect of the structure is strengthened, the multistability domain is wider, more stable branches are obtained and thus multimode solutions are enhanced. More fine analysis is allowed by the quantification of the variability of the attractors' contributions in the basins of attraction. Results demonstrate benefits of presence of imperfections in such periodic structure. In practice, imperfections can be functionalized to generate energy localization suitable for several engineering applications such as vibration energy harvesting.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop robust metamodels, which allow propagating parametric uncertainties, in the presence of localized nonlinearities, with reduced cost and without significant loss of accuracy. Design/methodology/approach The proposed metamodels combine the generalized polynomial chaos expansion (gPCE) for the uncertainty propagation and reduced order models (ROMs). Based on the computation of deterministic responses, the gPCE requires prohibitive computational time for large-size finite element models, large number of uncertain parameters and presence of nonlinearities. To overcome this issue, a first metamodel is created by combining the gPCE and a ROM based on the enrichment of the truncated Ritz basis using static residuals taking into account the stochastic and nonlinear effects. The extension to the Craig–Bampton approach leads to a second metamodel. Findings Implementing the metamodels to approximate the time responses of a frame and a coupled micro-beams structure containing localized nonlinearities and stochastic parameters permits to significantly reduce computation cost with acceptable loss of accuracy, with respect to the reference Latin Hypercube Sampling method. Originality/value The proposed combination of the gPCE and the ROMs leads to a computationally efficient and accurate tool for robust design in the presence of parametric uncertainties and localized nonlinearities.