As fatigue and fracture mechanics approaches are used more often for determining the useful life and/or inspection intervals for complex structures, realization sets-in that all factors are not well known or characterized. Indeed, inherent scatter exists in initial material quality and in material performance. Furthermore, projections of component usage in determination of applied stresses are inexact at best and are subject to much discrepancy between projected and actual usage. Even the models for predicting life contain inherent sources of error based on assumptions and/or empirically fitted parameters. All of these factors need to be accounted for to determine a distribution of potential lives based on combination of the aforementioned variables, as well as other factors. The purpose of this symposium was to create a forum for assessment of the state-of-the-art in incorporating these uncertainties and inherent scatter into systematic probabilistic methods for conducting life assessment.

This 2-volume set of books, comprising over 2,700 total pages, presents 325 fully original presentations on recent advances in structural health monitoring, as applied to commercial and military aircraft (manned and unmanned), high-rise buildings, wind turbines, civil infrastructure, power plants and ships. One general theme of the books is how SHM can be used for condition-based maintenance, with the goal of developing prediction-based systems, designed to save money over the life of vehicles and structures. A second theme centers on technologies for developing systems comprising sensors, diagnostic data and decision-making, with a focus on intelligent materials able to respond to damage and in some cases repair it. Finally the books discuss the relation among data, data interpretation and decision-making in managing a wide variety of complex structures and vehicles. More recent technologies discussed in the books include SHM and environmental effects, energy harvesting, non-contact sensing, and intelligent networks.Material in these books was first presented in September, 2011 at a conference held at Stanford University and sponsored by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, the Army Research Office, the Office of Naval Research and the National Science Foundation. Some of the highlights of the books include: SHM technologies for condition-based maintenance (CBM) and predictive maintenance Verification, validation, qualification, data mining, prognostics systems for decision-making Structural health, sensing and materials in closed-loop intelligent networks Military and aerospace, bioinspired sensors, wind turbines, monitoring with MEMS, damage sensing, hot spot monitoring, SHM and ships, high-rise structures Includes a fully-searchable CD-ROM displaying many figures and charts in full color

Structures that are essential for economy and security such as energy production, transportation and supply, water supply, buildings, are susceptible to failure, because of defects already present in the material, or created at fabrication, or appearing during service. Methods of assesment of the nocivity of these defects are needed, to predict the remaining service life and the eventual emergency of stopping service and repairing, if possible. To reach this objectives, this book presents the last methods derived from the classical linear, non-linear fracture mechanics concepts, including fatigue and notch fracture mechanics. Several examples of structures rehabilitations and repairing are given. This book gathers the presentation made during the Advanced Research Workshop held in Portoroz (Slovenia) in October 2008, under the auspices of NATO Science for Peace and Security Programme. It is edited by Professor Guy Pluvinage from the University Paul Verlaine – Metz (France) and Professor Aleksandar Sedmak from the University of Belgrade, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. Both have a long and rich experience in analysis of theoretical and practical cases in safety and reliability of structures. Other contributors are all known as experts in the areas of fatigue, facture and reliability of structures.

An engaging, entertaining, and informative introduction to probability and prediction in our everyday lives Although Probably Not deals with probability and statistics, it is not heavily mathematical and is not filled with complex derivations, proofs, and theoretical problem sets. This book unveils the world of statistics through questions such as what is known based upon the information at hand and what can be expected to happen. While learning essential concepts including "the confidence factor" and "random walks," readers will be entertained and intrigued as they move from chapter to chapter. Moreover, the author provides a foundation of basic principles to guide decision making in almost all facets of life including playing games, developing winning business strategies, and managing personal finances. Much of the book is organized around easy-to-follow examples that address common, everyday issues such as: How travel time is affected by congestion, driving speed, and traffic lights Why different gambling casino strategies ultimately offer players no advantage How to estimate how many different birds of one species are seen on a walk through the woods Seemingly random events—coin flip games, the Central Limit Theorem, binomial distributions and Poisson distributions, Parrando's Paradox, and Benford's Law—are addressed and treated through key concepts and methods in probability. In addition, fun-to-solve problems including "the shared birthday" and "the prize behind door number one, two, or three" are found throughout the book, which allow readers to test and practice their new probability skills. Requiring little background knowledge of mathematics, readers will gain a greater understanding of the many daily activities and events that involve random processes and statistics. Combining the mathematics of probability with real-world examples, Probably Not is an ideal reference for practitioners and students who would like to learn more about the role of probability and statistics in everyday decision making.

The definitive guide on Lean-Agile forecasting that gives you all the tools you need in order to answer your customers' most important question.