The monograph text is based on lectures delivered by author during many years for students of Applied Iechanics Department of Bauman Ioscow State Technical University. The monograph includes also analitical results of scientific research obtained in collaboration with industry. Progress in developing new equipment has called for a better understand ing of the physical peculiarities pertaining to the action of designed structures in real conditions. This is necessary for increasing the accuracy of the analysis and making these structures more reliable. It has been found that classical determined perturbations are not principal and that determinism-based methods of classical mechanics prove insufficient for understanding and explaining physical effects that arise at the operation of instruments located on moving objects, the vibration of rocket engines, the motion of a vehicle, and the action of wind and seismic loads. Therefore the necessity arose for devising a new physical model to analyze these dynamic processes and, in particular, for creating a new mathematical apparatus that would allow us to take into account non-deterministic external excitations. The theory of random processes that had been developed well enough as applied to problems of radio engineering and automatic control, where the effect produced by random excitations appeared to be commensurable with that of deterministic excitations and where the ignoring of the random ex citations would bring about incorrect results, became such an apparatus.

The last decades have witnessed the development of methods for solving struc tural reliability problems, which emerged from the efforts of numerous re searchers all over the world. For the specific and most common problem of determining the probability of failure of a structural system in which the limit state function g( x) = 0 is only implicitly known, the proposed methods can be grouped into two main categories: • Methods based on the Taylor expansion of the performance function g(x) about the most likely failure point (the design point), which is determined in the solution process. These methods are known as FORM and SORM (First- and Second Order Reliability Methods, respectively). • Monte Carlo methods, which require repeated calls of the numerical (nor mally finite element) solver of the structural model using a random real ization of the basic variable set x each time. In the first category of methods only SORM can be considered of a wide applicability. However, it requires the knowledge of the first and second deriva tives of the performance function, whose calculation in several dimensions either implies a high computational effort when faced with finite difference techniques or special programs when using perturbation techniques, which nevertheless require the use of large matrices in their computations. In or der to simplify this task, use has been proposed of techniques that can be regarded as variants of the Response Surface Method.

The revised edition of this book offers an expanded overview of the reliability design of mechanical systems and describes the reliability methodology, including a parametric accelerated life test (ALT) plan, a load analysis, a tailored series of parametric ALTs with action plans, and an evaluation of the final designs to ensure the design requirements are satisfied. It covers both the quantitative and qualitative approaches of the reliability design forming in the development process of mechanical products, with a focus on parametric ALT and illustrated via case studies. This new reliability methodology – parametric ALT should help mechanical and civil engineers to uncover design parameters improving product design and avoiding recalls. Updated chapters cover product recalls and assessment of their significance, modern definitions in reliability engineering, parametric accelerated life testing in mechanical systems, and extended case studies. For this revised edition, one new chapter has been introduced to reflect recent developments in analysis of fluid motion and mechanical vibration. Other chapters are expanded and updated to improve the explanation of topics including structures and load analysis, failure mechanics, design and reliability testing, and mechanical system failure. The broad scope gives the reader an overview of the state-of-the-art in the reliability design of mechanical systems and an indication of future directions and applications. It will serve as a solid introduction to the field for advanced students, and a valuable reference for those working in the development of mechanical systems and related areas.

Uncertainty is certain to be found in structural engineering, making it crucial to structure design. This book covers three competing philosophies behind structural safety and reliability: probabilistic analysis, fuzzy set-based treatments, and the convex approach. Explaining the theory behind probabilistic analysis, fuzzy set-based treatments, and the convex approach in detail, alongside their implementation, use, and benefits, the book compares and contrasts these methods, enabling the reader to solve problems associated with uncertainty. These uncertainty issues can be seen in civil engineering structures, risk of earthquakes, impact of rough seas on ships, and turbulence affecting aerospace vehicles. Building on the authors’ many years of experience in the field, Philosophies of Structural Safety and Reliability is an essential guide to structural uncertainty. Topics covered in the book include properties of materials and their structural deterioration, safety factor and reliability, risk evaluation and loads, and their combinations. This book will be of interest to students and professionals in the fields of aerospace, civil, mechanical, marine, and ocean engineering.

This book provides readers with an understanding of the fundamentals and applications of structural reliability, stochastic finite element method, reliability analysis via stochastic expansion, and optimization under uncertainty. It examines the use of stochastic expansions, including polynomial chaos expansion and Karhunen-Loeve expansion for the reliability analysis of practical engineering problems.

This text applies statistical mathematics to the analysis of electrical, mechanical, and other systems used in airborne, missile, and ground equipment. It applies quantitative reliability analysis to the design of series, parallel, and standby systems of all orders of complexity; discusses the role of Bayes' theorem in analyses of complex systems; and examines maintenance, repair, overhaul, and parts replacement policies for complex systems.

Mechanical Engineering, Energy Systems and Sustainable Development theme is a component of Encyclopedia of Physical Sciences, Engineering and Technology Resources in the global Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS), which is an integrated compendium of twenty one Encyclopedias. The Theme on Mechanical Engineering, Energy Systems and Sustainable Development with contributions from distinguished experts in the field discusses mechanical engineering - the generation and application of heat and mechanical power and the design, production, and use of machines and tools. These five volumes are aimed at the following five major target audiences: University and College Students Educators, Professional Practitioners, Research Personnel and Policy Analysts, Managers, and Decision Makers, NGOs and GOs.

This book provides readers with the latest know-how and tools needed to assess the in-service strength and reliability of welded structures. It addresses the two principal mechanisms of structural material deterioration, fatigue and corrosion, which affect the in-service behavior of structures. In this regard, the primary focus is on fatigue in connection with various structural failure scenarios. Realistic and typical examples of welded structures’ design and residual life assessment are used throughout the book in order to show readers the complexity of real-world assessments. The book offers a valuable resource for master’s students in mechanical and civil engineering, and for engineers whose work involves fatigue design and in-service inspections of welded structures.