Reliability of Structures
Tillförlitlighet hos konstruktioner

VBK001F, 7.5 credits

Valid from: Autumn 2014
Decided by: FN3/Per Tunestål
Date of establishment: 2014-02-06

General Information

Division: Structural Engineering
Course type: Third-cycle course
Teaching language: English

Aim

The purpose with the course is to present a systematic, statistical methodology to analyse and handle safety problems in structural engineering. Such a methodology has been developed during the last 30 years in the field of Structural Reliability, which nowadays is widely employed in advanced civil and mechanical engineering applications. Even if the course will focus on Structural Reliability, the general methodology is applicable for a large variety of other engineering problems which can be described by mathematical models.

Goals

Knowledge and Understanding

For a passing grade the doctoral student must

• • understand and evaluate uncertainties related to external actions and exposures as well in the performance of engineering systems in buildings and infrastructure facilities
• • understand and apply relevant methods and tools for analysis and management of uncertainties in design, planning and construction
• • understand the background for methods used to verify safety in structural design

Competences and Skills

For a passing grade the doctoral student must

• • be able to perform a statistical evaluation of a data material so that it can be used in evaluation of safety and performance of new structures as well as for evaluation of existing built facilities
• • be able to use statistical methodology and software to verify the probability that requirements of safety and performance are met
• • be able to collect and critically evaluate information about uncertainties in factors affecting performance and safety for buildings and infrastructural facilities

Judgement and Approach

For a passing grade the doctoral student must

• • have the insight that engineering methods to be used as basis for decisions lead to results which are associated with uncertainties
• • be able to assess the degree of uncertainty depending on the nature of the problem considered

Course Contents

The course includes • Fundamentals in probability theory • Reliability assessment and uncertainties • Solution methods for the generalised reliability problem • Reliability of structural systems • Time dependent reliability • Modelling of loads and load effects • Resistance modelling • Code calibration • Evaluation of existing structures The course presents a systematic, statistical methodology to analyze and evaluate uncertainties related to safety and performance in structural engineering applications, as support for design with respect to load bearing capacity, deflections, vibration and durability.

Course Literature

• Daalsgaard-Sörensen, J.: Notes in Structural Reliability. Ålborg University, 2004.
• Rychlik, I. & Rydén, J.: Probability and Risk Analysis. An Introduction for Engineers. Springer Verlag, 2006. ISBN 9783540242239.

Instruction Details

Types of instruction: Lectures, exercises, project. The course is based on lectures, exercises and a major project assignment. The student can choose application area in the project assignment according to interest. Special computer software for reliability analysis is used in the course.

Examination Details

Examination formats: Written exam, written report. The examination is based on a written exam together with evaluation of the report from the project assignment.
Grading scale: Failed, pass
Examiner:

Admission Details

Admission requirements: Masters degree in Civil Engineering or correspondent
Selection criteria: Ph.D-students within the Swedish Building Universities (LTH, KTH, LTU, Chalmers) are priority

Further Information

The course is given every 4 years

Course Occasion Information

Contact and Other Information

Course coordinator: Oskar Larsson Ivanov <oskar.larsson_ivanov@kstr.lth.se>