Probabilistic Methods In The Theory Of Structures

Well-written introduction covers probability theory from two or more random variables, reliability of such multivariable structures, theory of random function, Monte Carlo methods for problems incapable of exact solution, more.

The first edition of this book appeared over three decades ago (Wiley-Interscience, 1983), whereas the second one saw light on the verge of new millennium (Dover, 1999). This is third, corrected and expanded edition that appears in conjunction with its companion volume Probabilistic Methods in the Theory of Structures: Complete Worked-Through Solutions. Thus, the reader is able to both get acquainted with the theoretical material and be able to master some of the problems, following Chinese dictum: I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand — Confucius. The main idea of the book lies in the fact that three topics: probabilistic strength of materials, random vibrations, and probabilistic buckling are presented in a single package allowing one to see the forest in between the trees. Indeed, these three topics usually are presented in separate manners, in different specialized books. Here, the reader gets a feeling of true unity of the subject at large in order to appreciate that in the end what one wants is reliability of the structure, in conjunction with its operating conditions. As the author describes in the Preface of the second edition, this book was not conceived ab initio, as a book that author strived to compose. Rather, it was forced, as it were, upon me due to two reasons. One was rather a surprising but understandable requirement in the venerable Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands to prepare the lecture notes for students with the view of reducing skyrocketing costs of acquisition of textbooks by the students. The other one was an unusually warm acceptance of the notes that the author prepared while at Delft University of Technology and later in Haifa, at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology by the legendary engineering scientist Warner Tjardus Koiter (1914–1997). The energy necessary to prepare the second and third editions came from enthusiastic reviews that appeared in various sources. Author embraced the simplicity of exposition as the main virtue following Isaac Newton's view that "Truth is ever to be found in simplicity, and not in the multiplicity and confusion of things."

The first edition of the combined monograph and textbook Probabilistic Methods in the Theory of Structures was published by Wiley-Interscience in 1983. 1n 1999, Dover Publications, Inc. published its second edition under shorter title Probabilistic Theory of Structures. Now, World Scientific has expanded into a 3rd edition to include Problems with Complete Worked-Through Solutions. This compendium of solutions was written in response to requests by numerous university educators around the world, since it has been adopted as a textbook or an additional reading for both undergraduate and graduate courses. The author hopes that the availability of such solutions manual will further help to establish the courses dealing with probabilistic strength of materials, design, random buckling, and random vibration. The material itself was developed by author for various undergraduate and graduate courses, during years 1972–1989 at the Technion — Israel Institute of Technology, in Haifa, Israel, at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, year 1979/80 at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, USA and at the Florida Atlantic University, USA since 1994. Already since mid-eighties, the author was informed that the book was adopted in numerous universities worldwide. Besides complete solutions to more than one hundred problems, additional material and remarks are included as Chapter 12, bringing some ideas down to the "number" level. It is strongly hoped that this manual will promote much wider dissemination of probabilistic methods' courses at universities, and ultimately, in engineering practice worldwide. The 3rd Edition of the textbook, Probabilistic Methods in the Theory of Structures, is available separately.

Well-written introduction covers the elements of the theory of probability from two or more random variables, the reliability of such multivariable structures, the theory of random function, Monte Carlo methods of treating problems incapable of exact solution, and more. No previous knowledge of the subject necessary. Numerous examples, illustrative figures.

The first edition of the combined monograph and textbook Probabilistic Methods in the Theory of Structures was published by Wiley-Interscience in 1983. 1n 1999, Dover Publications, Inc. published its second edition under shorter title Probabilistic Theory of Structures. Now, World Scientific has expanded into a 3rd edition to include Problems with Complete Worked-Through Solutions. This compendium of solutions was written in response to requests by numerous university educators around the world, since it has been adopted as a textbook or an additional reading for both undergraduate and graduate courses. The author hopes that the availability of such solutions manual will further help to establish the courses dealing with probabilistic strength of materials, design, random buckling, and random vibration. The material itself was developed by author for various undergraduate and graduate courses, during years 1972-1989 at the Technion -- Israel Institute of Technology, in Haifa, Israel, at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, year 1979/80 at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, USA and at the Florida Atlantic University, USA since 1994. Already since mid-eighties, the author was informed that the book was adopted in numerous universities worldwide. Besides complete solutions to more than one hundred problems, additional material and remarks are included as Chapter 12, bringing some ideas down to the "number" level. It is strongly hoped that this manual will promote much wider dissemination of probabilistic methods' courses at universities, and ultimately, in engineering practice worldwide. The 3rd Edition of the textbook, Probabilistic Methods in the Theory of Structures, is available separately.

This book presents the most important applications of probablistic and statistical approaches and procedures to structural engineering.

The IUTAM Symposium on Probabilistic Methods in the Mechanics of Solids and Structures, dedicated to the memory of Waloddi Weibull, was held in Stockholm, Sweden, June 19-21, 1984, on the initiative of the Swedish National Committee for Mech anics and the Aeronautical Research Institute of Sweden, FFA. The purpose of the symposium was to bring together mathema ticians that develop the theory of stochastic processes and methods for reliability analysis, with engineers that apply these theories and methods to model loads, strengths and structures for the advancement of structural safety. Waloddi Weibull was a pioneer in this field with his many publi cations from the thirties until his death in 1979. He also took an active part in the formation of the International Union of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics during the forties, and subsequently initiated foundation of the Swedish National Committee for Mechanics, through which Sweden joined IUTAM as a member. 116 participants from 21 countries attended the symposium, and 55 invited papers were presented in 7 scientific sessions.