Stochastic Mechanics and Structural Reliability (3-0-0)

Basics of Probability theory-Axioms, Definitions, Random Variable, Probability Structure of

Random Variable, Joint Distributions, Functions of Random Variables, Some Common
Random Variables, Random Processes/Random Fields

Structural Reliability-Fundamental Concepts, First order Reliability Methods, Second order

Reliability Methods, Probabilistic Sensitivity, System Reliability, Simulation Techniques,
High Dimensional Model Representation Techniques for Reliability Analysis

Stochastic Finite Element Analysis for Structural Mechanics Problems, Random Field
Discretization, Perturbation Method, Neumann Expansion Method

Discussions on Recent Research Papers

References

1. Ang, .A. H-S., Tang, W. H., Probability Concepts in Engineering Planning and
Design-Volume I Basic Principles, John Wiley &Sons, 1975.
2. Ang, .A. H-S., Tang, W. H., Probability Concepts in Engineering Planning and
Design-Volume II Decision, Risk and Reliability, Rainbow Bridge Book Co. Ltd.,
1984
3. Halder A., Mahadevan, S., Probability, Reliability and Statistical Methods in
Engineering Design, John Wiley &Sons, 2000.
4. Ghanem, R. G., Spanos, P. D., Stochastic Finite Elements: A Spectral Approach,
Springer Verlag, 1991
5. Halder A., Mahadevan, S., Reliability Assessment Using Stochastic Finite Element
Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, 2000.
6. Melchers, R. E., Structural Reliability Analysis and Prediction, Ellis Howood Ltd.,
1987
7. Ranganathan, R. Structural reliability analysis and design. Jaico Publishing House,
Mumbai., 1999

Course Objectives:

1. To provide a review on theories of probability, random variables and random

processes which will help in quantifying the uncertainties, risk and reliability
associated with engineering decisions.
2. To introduce the concept of structural reliability and reliability index and methods to
calculate the same.
3. To introduce methods of reliability analysis using Monte Carlo simulations and
response surface methods.
4. To introduce stochastic finite element methods for solving governing differential
equations of problems in structural mechanics, when they are stochastic in nature.
Evaluation

Quiz 1 : 15%
Quiz 2/Term Project : 15%
Presentations/Assignments/Term Paper : 20%
End semester examination : 50%