The proceedings contain lectures and short papers presented at the NATO Advanced Study Institute on "Reliability Theory and Its Application in Structural and Soil Me chanics", Bornholm, Denmark, August 31 -September 9,1982. The proceedings are organized in two parts. The first part contains 12 papers by the invited lecturers and the second part contains 23 papers by participants plus one paper from an invited lecturer (la~e arrival). The Institute dealt with specific topics on application of modem reliability theories in structural engineering and soil mechanics. Both fundamental theory and more ad vanced theory were covered. Lecture courses were followed by tutorial and summary discussions with active participation of those attending the Institute. Special lectures of topical subjects were given by a number of invited speake~, leading to plenary dis cussions and summary statements on important aspects of application of modem .re liability theory in structural engineering and soil mechanics. A great number of the participants presented brief reports of their own research activities.

During a NATO Advanced Study Institute in Izmir, Tur key, July 1973 on Modern Developments in Engineering Seis mology and Earthquake Engineering it emerged that a debate on Continuum Mechanics Aspects of Geodynamics and Rock Fracture Mechanics would be very welcome. Therefore, it was decided to seek NATO sponsorship for an Advanced Study In stitute on this subject. The purpose of the new Advanced Study Institute was to provide a link between mechanics of continuum media and geo dynamic s. By bringing together a group of leading scientists from the above two fields and participants actively engaged in research and applications in the same fields, it was believed that fruitful discussions could emerge to facilitate an exchange of knowledge, experience and newly-conceived ideas. The Institute aimed primarily at the solution of such problems as connected with the study of stress and strain con ditions in the Earth, generic causes of earthquakes, energy release and focal mechanism and seismic wave propagation in troducing modern methods of continuum and rock fracture mechanics. Secondly to inspire scientists working in continuum mechanics to open new avenues of research connected with the above problems, and seismologists to adapt modern, advanced methods of continuum and rock fracture mechanics to their work."

The proceedings contain lectures and short papers presented at the NATO Advanced Study Institute on "Reliability Theory and Its Application in Structural and Soil Me chanics", Bornholm, Denmark, August 31 -September 9,1982. The proceedings are organized in two parts. The first part contains 12 papers by the invited lecturers and the second part contains 23 papers by participants plus one paper from an invited lecturer (la~e arrival). The Institute dealt with specific topics on application of modem reliability theories in structural engineering and soil mechanics. Both fundamental theory and more ad vanced theory were covered. Lecture courses were followed by tutorial and summary discussions with active participation of those attending the Institute. Special lectures of topical subjects were given by a number of invited speake~, leading to plenary dis cussions and summary statements on important aspects of application of modem .re liability theory in structural engineering and soil mechanics. A great number of the participants presented brief reports of their own research activities.

This proceedings volume contains 33 papers presented at the 3rd Working Conference on "Rel- iability and Optimization of Structural Systems", held at the University of California, Berkeley, California, USA, March 26 -28, 1990. The Working Conference was organised by the IFIP (Inter- national Federation for Information Processing) Working Group 7.5 of Technical Committee 7 and was the third in a series, following similar conferences held at the University of Aalborg, Denmark, May 1987 and at the Imperial College, London, UK, September 1988. The Working Conference was attended by 48 participants from 12 countries. The objectives of Working Group 7.5 are: * to promote modern structural systems optimization and reliability theory, * to advance international cooperation in the field of structural system optimization and reliability theory, * to stimulate research, development and application of structural system optimization and reli- ability theory, * to further the dissemination and exchange of information on reliability and optimization of structural systems * to encourage education in structural system optimization and reliability theory. At present the members of the Working Group are: A. H.-S. Ang, U.S.A. G. A ugusti, Italy M. J. Baker, United Kingdom P. Bjerager, Norway R. B. Corotis, U.S.A. C. A. Cornell, U.S.A. M. Grigoriu, U.S.A. A. Der Kiureghian, U.S.A. O. Ditlevsen, Denmark D. M. Frangopol, U.S.A. S. Garribba, Italy H. Furuta, Japan M. R. Gorman, U.S.A. M. Grimmelt, Germany, F. R.

The Proceedings contain 30 papers presented at the 2nd Working Conference on "Relia.bility and Optimization of Structural Systems" , London, UK, September 26 - 28, 1988. The Working conference was organized by the IFIP Working Group 7.5. The Proceedings also include 3 papers which were submitted, but for various reasons not presented at the Working Conference. The Working Conference was attended by 47 participants from 15 countries. The Conference was the second scientific meeting of a new IFIP Working Group 7.5 on "Reliability and Optimization of Structural Systems". The purpose of the Working Group 7.5 is * to promote modern structural system optimization and reliability theory, * to advance international cooperation in the field of structural system opti- mization and reliability theory, * to stimulate research, development and application of structural system op- timization and reliability theory, * to further the dissemination and exchange of information on reliability and optimization of structural system optimization and reliability theory, * to encourage education in structural system optimization and reliability the- ory. At present the members of the Working Group are: A. H. S. Ang, USA M. R. Gorman, USA G. Augmti, Italy M. Grimmelt, Germany, F. R. M. J. Baker, United Kingdom N. C. Lind, Canada P. Bjerager, Norway H. O. Mad"en, Denmark A. Der Kiureghian, USA F. MO$e$, USA o. Ditlev"en, Denmark Y. Murol$u, Japan D. M. Frangopol, USA R. Rac/cwitz, Germany F. R.

From the Preface: The Proceedings contain papers presented at the 1st Working Conference on "Reliability and Optimization of Structural Systems," Aalborg, Denmark, May 6-8, 1987. The conference was the first scientific meeting of the new IFIP Working Group 7.5 on "Reliability and Optimization of Structural Systems." The purpose of the Working Group 7.5 is: - to promote modern structural system optimization and reliability theory, - to advance international cooperation in the field of structural system optimization and reliability theory, - to stimulate research, development and application of structural system optimization and reliability theory, - to further the dissemination and exchange of information on reliability and optimization of structural system optimization and reliability theory, - to encourage education in structural system optimization and reliability theory.

During a NATO Advanced Study Institute in Izmir, Tur key, July 1973 on Modern Developments in Engineering Seis mology and Earthquake Engineering it emerged that a debate on Continuum Mechanics Aspects of Geodynamics and Rock Fracture Mechanics would be very welcome. Therefore, it was decided to seek NATO sponsorship for an Advanced Study In stitute on this subject. The purpose of the new Advanced Study Institute was to provide a link between mechanics of continuum media and geo dynamic s. By bringing together a group of leading scientists from the above two fields and participants actively engaged in research and applications in the same fields, it was believed that fruitful discussions could emerge to facilitate an exchange of knowledge, experience and newly-conceived ideas. The Institute aimed primarily at the solution of such problems as connected with the study of stress and strain con ditions in the Earth, generic causes of earthquakes, energy release and focal mechanism and seismic wave propagation in troducing modern methods of continuum and rock fracture mechanics. Secondly to inspire scientists working in continuum mechanics to open new avenues of research connected with the above problems, and seismologists to adapt modern, advanced methods of continuum and rock fracture mechanics to their work."