Seminar - Stuart Reid - Risk and reliability analysis - highlights and current developments

Wednesday, July 31, 2002, 1.10 - 1.50 pm
Civil Engineering Lecture Room 3

Abstract

Work in the field of engineering risk and reliability analysis has developed rapidly over the last 30 years. Important applications of risk analysis have included the development of reliability-based structural design codes, and the development of assessment procedures for special structures. This work is generally carried out by risk specialists or Code Committees and the results are usually given to practicing engineers in the form of deterministic design requirements to achieve target levels of reliability and safety. Therefore engineers generally do not need to carry out explicit risk analyses. Nevertheless it is desireable that all engineers should understand the general principles of risk assessment.

The talk will very briefly review some of the fundamental concepts of structural reliability analysis and describe some applications in the development of structural design codes. Some issues concerning the probabilistic modelling of loads and resistances will be discussed and some current research directions will be described, including the current research of the speaker. Some important issues related to the interpretation of risk assessments and the determination of acceptable risk levels will also be addressed.