This book presents the most important applications of probablistic and statistical approaches and procedures to structural engineering.

The chapters of this book were written by structural engineers. The approach, therefore, is not aiming toward a scientific modelling of the response but to the definition of engineering procedures for detecting and avoiding undesired phenomena. In this sense chaotic and stochastic behaviour can be tackled in a similar manner. This aspect is illustrated in Chapter 1. Chapters 2 and 3 are entirely devoted to Stochastic Dynamics and cover single-degree-of-freedom systems and impact problems, respectively. Chapter 4 provides details on the numerical tools necessary for evaluating the main indexes useful for the classification of the motion and for estimating the response probability density function. Chapter 5 gives an overview of random vibration methods for linear and nonlinear multi-degree-of-freedom systems. The randomness of the material characteristics and the relevant stochastic models ar considered in Chapter 6. Chapter 7, eventually, deals with large engineering sytems under stochastic excitation and allows for the stochastic nature of the mechanical and geometrical properties.

The aim of this volume is to present to researchers and engineers working on problems concerned with the mechanics of solids and structures, the current state of the development and application to procedures for assessing the reliability of a system. Particular attention is paid to their use in the analysis of complex engineering systems. The topics covered reflect the need to integrate, within the overall methodology, statistical methods for dealing with uncertain parameters and random excitation with the development of a suitable safety indexes and design codes. The basic principles of reliability theory, together with current standard methodology, including a consideration of the operational, economic and legal aspects of reliability assurance, is reviewed, together with an introduction to new developments, such as the application of expert systems technology. Damage accumulation predictions, with applications in seismic engineering are also covered.

Synthesises the knowledge needed to design and implement semiactive devices

Researchers have studied many methods of using active and passive control devices for absorbing vibratory energy. Active devices, while providing significant reductions in structural motion, typically require large (and often multiply-redundant) power sources, and thereby raise concerns about stability. Passive devices are fixed and cannot be modified based on information of excitation or structural response. Semiactive devices on the other hand can provide significant vibration reductions comparable to those of active devices but with substantially reduced power requirements and in a stable manner.

"Technology of Semiactive Devices and Applications in Vibration Mitigation" presents the most up-to-date research into semiactive control systems and illustrates case studies showing their implementation and effectiveness in mitigating vibration. The material is presented in a way that people not familiar with control or structural dynamics can easily understand.

Connecting structural dynamics with control, this book: Provides a history of semiactive control and a bibliographic review of the most common semiactive control strategies. Presents state-of-the-art semiactive control systems and illustrates several case studies showing their implementation and effectiveness to mitigate vibration. Illustrates applications related to noise attenuation, wind vibration damping and earthquake effects mitigation amongst others. Offers a detailed comparison between collocated and non-collocated systems. Formulates the design concepts and control algorithms in simple and readable language. Includes an appendix thatcontains critical considerations about semiactive devices and methods of evaluation of the original damping of a structure.

"Technology of Semiactive Devices and Applications in Vibration Mitigation" is a must-have resource for researchers, practitioners and design engineers working in civil, automotive and mechanical engineering. In addition it is undoubtedly the key reference for all postgraduate students studying in the field.