Classification and Analysis of Uncertainty in Structural Systems

Abstract

Decisions about engineering design, construction, maintenance and repair have to be taken in spite of a lack of complete knowledge about all the factors that ought to influence such decisions. Often the only information available which sheds any light on the magnitude of the uncertainties present was created or collected for different purposes. For instance, data on the strength of structures, or elements of structures, is usually only available from tests made to determine or validate design rules. In such experiments the aim is to cover as wide a range of different examples as possible, with the result that there is not the repetition of notionally identical tests that is the basis of classical statistics. Nonetheless such data do contain information relevant to the assessment of uncertainty.