Quantifying Quality Improvement Programs
Structural codes are evolving to a limit state design basis in which the safety checks are derived from the underlying probability distributions of strength and loads. An example safety...
Fatigue Reliability of Ship Hull Girder
Based on estimates on uncertainties in wave loading and fatigue capacity the fatigue reliability of ship hull girder is calculated with respect to global vertical wave bending moment....
Effect of Air Gap on Platform Reliability
A simplified reliability study of the effect of lateral wave forces impacting the deck of a fixed platform is presented. The reliability of the deck legs, considered the primary resistance...
Rainflow Cycles in Nonstationary Gaussian Processes
This paper develops a methodology for calculating the probability distribution for rainflow cycles in a nonstationary Gaussian process. The up- and downcrossing rates are estimated for...
Probability of Failure Under a Biaxial State of Stress
Structural components are subjected to uniaxial stress states only infrequently. Even under such simple conditions as direction tension or bending the presence of holes, cutouts and other...
Reliability Study of Randomly Imperfect Beam-Columns
In this study, the effect of random initial geometric imperfections was treated as a set of equivalent random initial forces. This concept enables the direct employment of existing stochastic...
Time Variant Reliability Analysis Using Bivariate Diffusive Crack Growth Models
This paper is concerned with the development of a time-dependent reliability concept. The time variant load carrying capacity, i.e., resistance, of a structure caused by fatigue is expressed...
Diffusion Models of Crack Growth Due to Random Overloads
Stochastic diffusion models of crack growth are developed, reflecting uncertainty in applied loading and residual stresses near the crack tip. Applications are shown to (1) random vibration...
Outcrossing Rates By Point Crossing Method
The point crossing method is applied to compute outcrossing rates for general safe domains, i.e., nonlinear load combinations problems. For stationary processes the method typically yields...
Rock Armouring to Unconventional Breakwaters: The Design Implications for Rock Durability
This paper identifies the need for quantitative durability testing of rock for use on dynamically stable rock armored slopes. The derivation and use of a suite of engineering tests for...
A Multilayered Model for Analysis of Composite Pipes
A multilayered model is developed to analyze the behavior of composite pipes, such as prestressed concrete pipe, to the combined effects of internal pressure and applied loads. The pipe...
Water Pipeline Infrastructure; Design Now for Future Ease of Repair
This paper covers the general types of water pipe joints presently in the ground in the United States. It also covers the methods used to repair joints and damaged pipes, pipe cutting,...
Cables in Trouble
Having inspected more than half of the world's cable stayed bridges, the authors conclude that many are in danger of sudden collapse unless corrosion problems can be stopped....
Parallel and Distributed Processing in Structural Engineering
Parallel processing is emerging as an effective approach to large scale structural engineering computations. The papers included in this book cover vibration analysis using a parallel...
Soil Properties Evaluation from Centrifugal Models and Field Performance
The performance of geotechnical projects is dependent upon the appropriateness of the design theory to the boundary conditions, and the characterization of the soil properties used in...
Random Characteristics of Sediment-Laden Flows and the Techniques of Effective Sediment Exclusion on Dujiangyan Irrigation Project in China
The irrigation system is over 2,200 years old and discharges water at a rate of 340-740 m3/s from the Minjiang River. The average slope of the river...
Bulk Stomatal Resistance in Operational Estimates of Evapotranspiration
General relationships for estimating canopy or bulk stomatal resistance and aerodynamic resistances of grass and alfalfa reference crops for use in the Penman-J.L. Monteith equation are...
Power Formula for Open-Channel Flow Resistance
This paper evaluates various power formulas for flow resistance in open channels. Unlike the logarithmic resistance equation that can be theoretically derived either from Prandtl's...
Near-Bed Sediment Concentration in Non-Uniform Flows Over Gravel Beds
The calculation of near-bed sediment concentration is formulated in terms of equations governing the dispersion of heavy particles in non-uniform turbulent shear flows over stable gravel...
Analytical and Numerical Modeling at High Sediment Concentrations
Methods for classifying sediment-water mixtures according to material concentration and rheologic properties are discussed. Results from laboratory and field measurements show that bed...
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