Module Catalogue 2025/26

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

The aim of the module is to enable students to understand the fundamental principles of structural reliability, to have an appreciation of some advanced aspects and to demonstrate their application through the solution of a number of realistic problems, both analytically and numerically.

Summary:
The module combines analysis techniques, probabilistics and the application of statistical information in the presentation of concepts associated with the reliability analysis of structures. Material, load, and resistance properties are presented and described. Monte-Carlo and FORM methods of reliability analysis are developed and applied. These are used with the statistical information to analyse realistic tractible structural reliability problems using structural mechanics principles to explore the methodologies.

Outline Of Syllabus

1.       Principles of structural reliability – deterministic measures of limit state violation, probabilistic
measures of limit state violation, the generalised reliability problem, basic probabilities, uncertainties in reliability, nominal probability of failure.
2.       Integration and simulation methods – Monte Carlo simulation, importance sampling.
3.       Second-moment and transformation methods – FOSM, FOR, second-order methods, applications.
4.       Reliability of systems – series and parallel systems, system combinations.
5.       Safety coefficients – bases of design, safety coefficients, definition and calibration of partial coefficients.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

1.             An understanding of the concept of structural reliability & its definitions in the context of structural engineering. (M9)
2.             Qualification & quantification of structural reliability-statistical measurements of material and structure uncertainty, risk assessment & acceptability. (M9)
3.       Computation of structural reliability using alternative methods as a function of the nature of the mathematical model associated with the problem. (M1, M2, M3)
4.       An appreciation of calibration and assessment methodologies applied to new & existing structures. (M9)
5.       An awareness of new and emerging methods. (M3)

Intended Skill Outcomes

The module should enable the students to become proficient in:

1.Problem analysis (M2)
2.The use of computational tools (M3)

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Students are expected to learn through guided learning, independent reading and solutions to tutorial problems. They are supported in this by the provision of recorded lectures, an extensive set of notes, and tutorial activities. Learning will be further enhanced through half-day workshops during which the application of computational methods to the solution of structural reliability problems is explored.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The knowledge gained in the module is expected to be an understanding of the principles of structural reliability analysis and the application of those principles to structural engineering applications using an example of commercially available software. The computer assessment is a combination of short questions and a smaller set of more exploratory questions. The short questions are a mix of numerical and written forms that randomly assess the full breadth and content of the module. The longer, exploratory questions are based on numerical studies and computational experiments. AHEP 4 [M1, M2, M3, M9]

General Notes

N/A