Seismic Reliability Analysis of Structures
Author: P. E. (Author), Giannini (Author), R. & Franchin (Author), P. Pinto (Author), IUSS Press (Editor) | Size: ? MB | Format: PDF | Quality: Unspecified | Publisher: IUSS Press | Year: 2004 | pages: 370 | ISBN: 8873580173-978-8873580171
In the broad area of structural engineering design for earthquake resistance is the sector where recourse to reliability concepts represents not just a refinement but a necessity. A background in probability theory is a prerequisite for the very understanding of terms like average return period, uniform hazard spectrum, and many others that are common in design practice. Looking in perspective, there is a clear trend of the new generation of design codes to set the objectives of the design in terms of the fulfilment of a number of performance levels, whose measure of achievement is quantified by a probability. A sound basis on the theory of probability, on that of stochastic processes and random vibrations, and on the methods that allow probabilities of exceedance of specified levels of response to be evaluated, is becoming a requirement for a correct use of the codes. The aim of this self-contained book is to provide the fundamental theoretical bases and to present the state of the art in the field of the methods for the probabilistic evaluation of seismic performance. The book contains four main chapters and two appendices, the latter ones being devoted to a succinct exposition of the theories of probability and stochastic processes, respectively. The content of the appendices has been selected primarily in order to provide full support for the material in the body of the book, though without compromising certain requisites of rigour and completeness.