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.

Organized by the International Association for Structural Control (IASC), and sponsored by the European Association for the Control of Structures (EACS), the recent world conference on structural control (3WCSC) brought together engineers, scientists, architects, builders and other practitioners interested in the general fields of active, hybrid and passive vibration control, health monitoring and damage detection, intelligent/smart materials and systems. Applications included buildings, bridges, space structures and civil infrastructures under the action of dynamic environments (earthquake, wind, traffic…) and man-made loads. It provided a valuable forum for the discussion of the most pressing concerns in structural control and its related topics.

The conference covered a wide range of topics including active and semi-active control devices, passive control devices, control algorithms for linear and non-linear systems, modeling and identification of structural systems, sensors, health monitoring and damage detection, benchmark test of building and bridges, innovative materials for structural control, applications to aerospace structures, applications to bridges, applications to critical structures, external dynamic force characteristics and controllability issues, implications of severe ground motions, wind forces, codes for structural control, and so forth. Such comprehensive treatment of the most innovative developments in structural control will make these volumes an informative reference for all researchers and engineers interested in this area.

Proceedings of the US – Europe Workshop On Sensors and Smart Structures Technology Como and Somma Lombardo, Italy

In the last few years, significant progress has been made in the area of sensing technology and structural health monitoring/condition assessment in the US and Europe. Innovative concepts involving new hardware, algorithms, and software have been proposed. There have also been several full-scale trial implementations of densely sensor-instrumented infrastructures and health monitoring systems, as well as case studies on bridges in Europe and in the US.

Much can be learnt through US/European collaboration in the area of experimental verification on small, medium, large and full-scale projects. Moreover, a common framework for expanded future joint research can be developed on the increased understanding achieved through mutual learning.

This workshop consisted of seminar sessions on several themes which included innovative sensing hardware, advances in wireless technology, and damage detection/characterization and condition assessment methodologies. In addition, there were several workshop sessions devoted to summarizing the status of the sensors and smart structures technologies in these topics, identifying the compelling research issues, and formulating an action plan with recommendations for development and implementation through possible collaborative research projects and sharing of scientific data.