Instructor: Richard J. Nielsen
Fundamentals of reliability theory, system reliability analysis including common-mode failures and fault tree and event tree analysis, time-dependent reliability, including testing and maintenance, propagation of uncertainty, human reliability analysis, practical applications in component and system design throughout the semester.Prerequisite: permission
To understand the role of uncertainty in engineering analysis and design. The student will become familiar with first-order reliability measures and simulation techniques, system reliability analysis including fault trees and event trees, human error and code calibration.
Ditlevsen, O. and H.O. Madsen (2005) Structural Reliability Methods. Coastal, Maritime and Structural Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Nils Koppels Allé, Building 403, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark. Available on-line.
Nowak, A.S., and K. Collins, (2000). Reliability of Structures. McGraw-Hill.
Ang, A. H.-S., and W. Tang (1975). Probability Concepts in Engineering Planning and Design, Volume 1, J. Wiley and Sons.
Ang A. H.-S. and Tang. (1990) W. Probability Concepts in Engineering Planning and Design, Volume 2 - Decision, Risk and Reliability, published by the authors.
Melchers, R. E. (1987). Structural Reliability, Analysis and Prediction. J. Wiley and Sons.
Thoft-Christensen, P. and M. J. Baker (1982). Structural Reliability Theory and Its Applications. Springer-Verlag.
Madsen, H. O., S. Krenk, and N. C. Lind (1986). Methods of Structural Safety. Prentice-Hall.
The course will make use of Mathcad for simulations, etc. Academic pricing will be discussed in class; please don't purchase it before then.
The reading assignments indicated in the course calendar correspond to sections in the text. Read the assigned section before each lecture.
Homework sets are due on the dates/lectures indicated on the course calendar.
There will be three exams.
There will be a project assigned approximately midway through the semester. For on-campus students, the project will include a presentation to be made by each student at the end of semester. For off-campus students, a report will be submitted summarizing the project.
Homework - 20%
Exams - 50%
Project - 30%