This book provides structural reliability and design students with fundamental knowledge in structural reliability, as well as an overview of the latest developments in the field of reliability engineering. It addresses the mathematical formulation of analytical tools for structural reliability assessment. This book offers an accessible introduction to structural reliability assessment and a solid foundation for problem-solving. It introduces the topic and background, before dealing with probability models for random variables. It then explores simulation techniques for single random variables, random vectors consisting of different variables, and stochastic processes. The book addresses analytical approaches for structural reliability assessment, including the reliability models for a single structure and those for multiple structures, as well as discussing the approaches for structural time-dependent reliability assessment in the presence of discrete and continuous load processes. This book delivers a timely and pedagogical textbook, including over 170 worked-through examples, detailed solutions, and analytical tools, making it of interest to a wide range of graduate students, researchers, and practitioners in the field of reliability engineering.

This book provides structural reliability and design students with fundamental knowledge in structural reliability, as well as an overview of the latest developments in the field of reliability engineering. It addresses the mathematical formulation of analytical tools for structural reliability assessment. This book offers an accessible introduction to structural reliability assessment and a solid foundation for problem-solving. It introduces the topic and background, before dealing with probability models for random variables. It then explores simulation techniques for single random variables, random vectors consisting of different variables, and stochastic processes. The book addresses analytical approaches for structural reliability assessment, including the reliability models for a single structure and those for multiple structures, as well as discussing the approaches for structural time-dependent reliability assessment in the presence of discrete and continuous load processes. This book delivers a timely and pedagogical textbook, including over 170 worked-through examples, detailed solutions, and analytical tools, making it of interest to a wide range of graduate students, researchers, and practitioners in the field of reliability engineering.

Publisher Description

STRUCTURAL RELIABILITY Discover a new and innovative approach to structural reliability from two authoritative and accomplished authors The subject of structural reliability, which deals with the problems of evaluating the safety and risk posed by a wide variety of structures, has grown rapidly over the last four decades. And while the First-Order Reliability Method is principally used by most textbooks on this subject, other approaches have identified some of the limitations of that method. In Structural Reliability: Approaches from Perspectives of Statistical Moments, accomplished engineers and authors Yan-Gang Zhao and Dr. Zhao-Hui Lu, deliver a concise and insightful exploration of an alternative and innovative approach to structural reliability. Called the Methods of Moment, the authors’ approach is based on the information of statistical moments of basic random variables and the performance function. The Methods of Moment approach facilitates ­structural reliability analysis and reliability-based design and can be extended to other engineering disciplines, yielding further insights into challenging problems involving ­randomness. Readers will also benefit from the inclusion of: A thorough introduction to the measures of structural safety, including uncertainties in structural design, deterministic measures of safety, and probabilistic measures of safety An exploration of the fundamentals of structural reliability theory, including the performance function and failure probability A practical discussion of moment evaluation for performance functions, including moment computation for both explicit and implicit performance functions A concise treatment of direct methods of moment, including the third- and fourth-moment reliability methods Perfect for professors, researchers, and graduate students in civil engineering, Structural Reliability: Approaches from Perspectives of Statistical Moments will also earn a place in the libraries of professionals and students working or studying in mechanical engineering, aerospace and aeronautics engineering, marine and offshore engineering, ship engineering, and applied mechanics.

This book addresses probabilistic methods for the evaluation of structural reliability, including the theoretical basis of these methods. Partial safety factor codes under current practice are briefly introduced and discussed. A probabilistic code format for obtaining a formal reliability evaluation system that catches the most essential features of the nature of the uncertainties and their interplay is then gradually developed. The concepts presented are illustrated by numerous examples throughout the text. The modular approach of the book allows the reader to navigate through the different stages of the methods.

This book provides structural reliability and design students with fundamental knowledge in structural reliability, as well as an overview of the latest developments in the field of reliability engineering. It addresses the mathematical formulation of analytical tools for structural reliability assessment. This book offers an accessible introduction to structural reliability assessment and a solid foundation for problem-solving. It introduces the topic and background, before dealing with probability models for random variables. It then explores simulation techniques for single random variables, random vectors consisting of different variables, and stochastic processes. The book addresses analytical approaches for structural reliability assessment, including the reliability models for a single structure and those for multiple structures, as well as discussing the approaches for structural time-dependent reliability assessment in the presence of discrete and continuous load processes. This book delivers a timely and pedagogical textbook, including over 170 worked-through examples, detailed solutions, and analytical tools, making it of interest to a wide range of graduate students, researchers, and practitioners in the field of reliability engineering.

STRUCTURAL RELIABILITY Discover a new and innovative approach to structural reliability from two authoritative and accomplished authors The subject of structural reliability, which deals with the problems of evaluating the safety and risk posed by a wide variety of structures, has grown rapidly over the last four decades. And while the First-Order Reliability Method is principally used by most textbooks on this subject, other approaches have identified some of the limitations of that method. In Structural Reliability: Approaches from Perspectives of Statistical Moments, accomplished engineers and authors Yan-Gang Zhao and Dr. Zhao-Hui Lu, deliver a concise and insightful exploration of an alternative and innovative approach to structural reliability. Called the Methods of Moment, the authors’ approach is based on the information of statistical moments of basic random variables and the performance function. The Methods of Moment approach facilitates structural reliability analysis and reliability-based design and can be extended to other engineering disciplines, yielding further insights into challenging problems involving randomness. Readers will also benefit from the inclusion of: A thorough introduction to the measures of structural safety, including uncertainties in structural design, deterministic measures of safety, and probabilistic measures of safety An exploration of the fundamentals of structural reliability theory, including the performance function and failure probability A practical discussion of moment evaluation for performance functions, including moment computation for both explicit and implicit performance functions A concise treatment of direct methods of moment, including the third- and fourth-moment reliability methods Perfect for professors, researchers, and graduate students in civil engineering, Structural Reliability: Approaches from Perspectives of Statistical Moments will also earn a place in the libraries of professionals and students working or studying in mechanical engineering, aerospace and aeronautics engineering, marine and offshore engineering, ship engineering, and applied mechanics.

Structural reliability theory is concerned with the rational treatment of uncertainties in struc tural engineering and with the methods for assessing the safety and serviceability of civil en gineering and other structures. It is a subject which has grown rapidly during the last decade and has evolved from being a topic for academic research to a set of well-developed or develop ing methodologies with a wide range of practical applications. Uncertainties exist in most areas of civil and structural engineeri'1.g and rational design decisions cannot be made without modelling them and taking them into account. Many structural en gineers are shielded from having to think about such problems, at least when designing simple structures, because of the prescriptive and essentially deterministic nature of most codes of practice. This is an undesirable situation. Most loads and other structural design parameters are rarely known with certainty and should be regarded as random variables or stochastic processes, even if in design calculations they are eventually treated as deterministic. Some problems such as the analysis of load combinations cannot even be formulated without recourse to probabilistic reasoning.

This volume is an outcome of the 11th IFIP WG7.5 working conference on Reliability and Optimization of Structural Systems in Canada. The conference focuses on structural reliability methods and applications and engineering risk analysis and decision-making.

Increasing demand on improving the resiliency of modern structures and infrastructure requires ever more critical and complex designs. Therefore, the need for accurate and efficient approaches to assess uncertainties in loads, geometry, material properties, manufacturing processes, and operational environments has increased significantly. Reliability-based techniques help develop more accurate initial guidance for robust design and help to identify the sources of significant uncertainty in structural systems. Reliability-Based Analysis and Design of Structures and Infrastructure presents an overview of the methods of classical reliability analysis and design most associated with structural reliability. It also introduces more modern methods and advancements, and emphasizes the most useful methods and techniques used in reliability and risk studies, while elaborating their practical applications and limitations rather than detailed derivations. Features: Provides a practical and comprehensive overview of reliability and risk analysis and design techniques. Introduces resilient and smart structures/infrastructure that will lead to more reliable and sustainable societies. Considers loss elimination, risk management and life-cycle asset management as related to infrastructure projects. Introduces probability theory, statistical methods, and reliability analysis methods. Reliability-Based Analysis and Design of Structures and Infrastructure is suitable for researchers and practicing engineers, as well as upper-level students taking related courses in structural reliability analysis and design.