Uncertainties play a dominant role in the design and optimization of structures and infrastructures. In optimum design of structural systems due to variations of the material, manufacturing variations, variations of the external loads and modelling uncertainty, the parameters of a structure, a structural system and its environment are not given, fi

Stochastic Analysis of Offshore Steel Structures provides a clear and detailed guide to advanced analysis methods of fixed offshore steel structures using 3D beam finite elements under random wave and earthquake loadings. Advanced and up-to-date research results are coupled with modern analysis methods and essential theoretical information to consider optimal solutions to structural issues. As these methods require and use knowledge of different subject matters, a general introduction to the key areas is provided. This is followed by in-depth explanations supported by design examples, relevant calculations and supplementary material containing related computer programmers. By combining this theoretical and practical approach Stochastic Analysis of Offshore Steel Structures cover a range of key concepts in detail including: The basic principles of standard 3D beam finite elements and special connections, Wave loading - from hydrodynamics to the calculation of wave loading on structural members, Stochastic response calculations with corresponding solution algorithms including earthquakes, and Fatigue damage, reliability calculation and reliability based design optimization. The broad and detailed coverage makes this a solid reference for research oriented studies and practical sophisticated design methods. Students, researchers, insuring bodies and practical designer offices can turn to Stochastic Analysis of Offshore Steel Structures to broaden their theoretical understanding and develop their practical designs and applications of 3D finite analysis in fixed offshore steel structures.

The recent introduction of active and passive structural control methods has given structural designers powerful tools for performance-based design. However, structural engineers often lack the tools for the optimal selection and placement of such systems. In Building Control with Passive Dampers , Takewaki brings together most the reliable, state-of-the-art methods in practice around the world, arming readers with a real sense of how to address optimal selection and placement of passive control systems. The first book on optimal design, sizing, and location selection of passive dampers Combines theory and practical applications Describes step-by-step how to obtain optimal damper size and placement Covers the state-of-the-art in optimal design of passive control Integrates the most reliable techniques in the top literature and used in practice worldwide Written by a recognized expert in the area MATLAB code examples available from the book’s Companion Website This book is essential for post-graduate students, researchers, and design consultants involved in building control. Professional engineers and advanced undergraduates interested in seismic design, as well as mechanical engineers looking for vibration damping techniques, will also find this book a helpful reference. Code examples available at www.wiley.com/go/takewaki

Maritime Technology and Engineering includes the papers presented at the 2nd International Conference on Maritime Technology and Engineering (MARTECH 2014, Lisbon, Portugal, 15-17 October 2014). The contributions reflect the internationalization of the maritime sector, and cover a wide range of topics: Ports; Maritime transportation; Inland navigat

This eBook is the fourth in a series of books on the critical earthquake response of elastic or elastic-plastic structures under near-fault or long-duration ground motions, and includes six original research papers which were published in the specialty section Earthquake Engineering in ‘Frontiers in Built Environment’. Several extensions of the first eBook, the second eBook and the third eBook are included here. The first article is on the comparison of earthquake resilience of various building structures including innovative base-isolation systems and control systems. Pulse-type ground motions and resonant harmonic ground motions are used for investigating the earthquake resilience of those innovative building structures. The second article is concerned with the performance of an innovative seismic response controlled system with shear walls and concentrated dampers in lower stories. The resonant one-cycle sine waves and resonant harmonic waves are used as the input ground motions. The third article is related to the robustness evaluation of a base-isolation building-connection hybrid controlled building structure under the critical long-period and long-duration ground motion. The multi impulse is used as a substitute for a long-period and long-duration ground motion and the model reduction to a single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) system is conducted to propose a simple response evaluation method. The fourth article is an extension of the previously proposed energy balance approach to a damped bilinear hysteretic SDOF system under a double impulse as a substitute for a near-fault ground motion. The energy absorption through viscous damping is incorporated appropriately in the energy balance and the application of the proposed method to actual recorded ground motions is presented. The fifth article is on the robustness evaluation of base-isolation building-connection hybrid controlled building structures considering uncertainties in deep ground. The earthquake ground motion amplitude at the earthquake bedrock is evaluated by the Boore’s stochastic method in 1983 including the fault rupture and the wave propagation into the earthquake bedrock. Then the phase angle property at the earthquake bedrock is investigated by introducing the concept of phase difference which is defined for each earthquake type. A wave at the ground surface nearly resonant to the base-isolation building-connection hybrid controlled building structure is produced by considering uncertainties in deep ground. The sixth article is concerned with the critical response of nonlinear base-isolated buildings considering soil-structure interaction under a double impulse as a substitute for a near-fault ground motion. The complicated model of a nonlinear base-isolated building on ground is modeled into an SDOF system after a few model reduction processes. The approach presented in this eBook, together with the previous eBooks, is an epoch-making accomplishment to open the door for simpler and deeper understanding of structural reliability and resilience of built environments in the elastic-plastic and nonlinear range.

Selected, peer reviewed papers from the 2013 2nd International Conference on Machine Design and Manufacturing Engineering (ICMDME 2013), May 1-2, 2013, Jeju Island, South Korea

Engineering Design Optimization is written for students who are looking to optimize their engineering designs, but are unaware of the mathematical rigor needed to address their objectives. This book addresses teaches the algorithms that are used in engineering optimization. Contains unique material on monotonicity, probabalistic design optimization, and genetic algorithms. Keeps mathematics simple, but proves theories as needed. Provides algorithms essential for optimization and encourages students to write their own computer programs.

Selected, peer reviewed papers from the 1st International Conference on Uncertainty in Mechanical Engineering (ICUME 2011), November 14-15, 2011, Darmstadt, Germany