Reliability of Structures

Reliability of Structures enables both students and practising engineers to appreciate how to value and handle reliability as an important dimension of structural design. It discusses the concepts of limit states and limit state functions, and presents methodologies for calculating reliability indices and calibrating partial safety factors. It also supplies information on the probability distributions and parameters used to characterize both applied loads and member resistances. This revised and extended second edition contains more discussions of US and international codes and the issues underlying their development. There is significant revision and expansion of the discussion on Monte Carlo simulation, along with more examples. The book serves as a textbook for a one-semester course for advanced undergraduates or graduate students, or as a reference and guide to consulting structural engineers. Its emphasis is on the practical applications of structural reliability theory rather than the theory itself. Consequently, probability theory is treated as a tool, and enough is given to show the novice reader how to calculate reliability. Some background in structural engineering and structural mechanics is assumed. A solutions manual is available upon qualifying course adoption.

IntroductionOverviewObjectives of the BookPossible ApplicationsHistorical PerspectiveUncertainties in the Building ProcessRandom VariablesBasic DefinitionsProperties of Probability Functions (CDF, PDF, and PMF)Parameters of a Random VariableCommon Random VariablesProbability PaperInterpretation of Test Data Using StatisticsConditional ProbabilityRandom VectorsCorrelationBayesian UpdatingProblemsFunctions of Random VariablesLinear Functions of Random VariablesLinear Functions of Normal VariablesProduct of Lognormal Random Variables Nonlinear Function of Random VariablesCentral Limit TheoremProblemsSimulation TechniquesMonte Carlo MethodsLatin Hypercube SamplingRosenblueth’s 2K + 1 Point Estimate MethodStructural Safety AnalysisLimit statesFundamental CaseReliability IndexRackwitz–Fiessler ProcedureReliability Analysis Using SimulationProblemsStructural Load ModelsTypes of LoadGeneral Load ModelsDead LoadLive Load in BuildingsLive Load for BridgesEnvironmental LoadsLoad CombinationsProblems Models of rResistanceParameters of ResistanceSteel Components Aluminum StructuresReinforced and Prestressed Concrete ComponentsWood ComponentsDesign CodesOverviewRole of a Code in the Building Process Code Levels Code Development Procedure Calibration of Partial Safety Factors for a Level I Code Development of a Bridge Design CodeExample of the Code Calibration—ACI 318 Concluding RemarksProblemsSystem ReliabilityElements and SystemsSeries and Parallel SystemsReliability Bounds for Structural SystemsSystems with Equally Correlated ElementsSystems with Unequally Correlated ElementsSummaryProblemsUncertainties in the Building ProcessIntroductionClassification of ErrorsError SurveysApproach to ErrorsSensitivity AnalysisOther ApproachesConclusionsAppendix A: Acronyms Appendix B: Values of the CDF F(z) for the Standard Normal Probability Distribution Appendix C: Values of the Gamma Function Bibliography Index

Andrzej S. Nowak is Robert W. Brightfelt Professor of Engineering at the University of Nebraska, USA. He has received the ASCE Moisseiff Award, the IFIP WG 7.5 Award, the Bene Merentibus Medal, and the Kasimir Gzowski Medal from the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers. Kevin R. Collins is an Associate Professor at Valley Forge Military College, USA.

Reliability of Structures enables both students and practising engineers to appreciate how to value and handle reliability as an important dimension of structural design. It discusses the concepts of limit states and limit state functions, and presents methodologies for calculating reliability indices and calibrating partial safety factors. It also supplies information on the probability distributions and parameters used to characterize both applied loads and member resistances.
This revised and extended second edition contains more discussions of US and international codes and the issues underlying their development. There is significant revision and expansion of the discussion on Monte Carlo simulation, along with more examples.
The book serves as a textbook for a one-semester course for advanced undergraduates or graduate students, or as a reference and guide to consulting structural engineers. Its emphasis is on the practical applications of structural reliability theory rather than the theory itself. Consequently, probability theory is treated as a tool, and enough is given to show the novice reader how to calculate reliability. Some background in structural engineering and structural mechanics is assumed.
A companion website provides a solutions manual for problems in the book.