Practical Probability and Reliability Methods for Civil and Environmental Engineering sets out useful probabilistic methods and their efficient implementations across civil engineering, including transportation and traffic, hydrosystems, environmental, geotechnical and structural engineering.
The book aims to overcome conceptual and implementation hurdles surrounding probability methods for civil and environmental engineers and serves as a textbook for upper-level undergraduates and beginning graduate students. It makes use of Microsoft Excel's versatile constrained optimization Solver tool, using some simple VBA codes, including FORM, SORM, system reliability, importance sampling, direct MCS, and response surface techniques.
Solutions can be downloaded free for hands-on appreciation and deeper understanding. PowerPoint slides based on the book are available for adopting course instructors. The book pairs well with the author's Reliability-Based Design in Soil and Rock Engineering (CRC Press, 2021).
Table of Contents:
Chapter 1. Introduction, Chapter 2. Statistical data analysis and probability concepts, Chapter 3. Efficient FORM, system reliability and SORM in Excel platform, Chapter 4. From FORM to Monte Carlo simulations and importance sampling, Chapter 5. Applications in Structural Engineering, Chapter 6. Applications in Traffic and Transportation Engineering, Chapter 7. Applications in Environmental and Water Engineering, Chapter 8. Applications in Construction Management and Planning, Chapter 9. Applications in Geotechnical Engineering
About the Author :
Dr. Bak Kong Low is senior professor at the Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) main campus of Perak, Malaysia. Dr. Low earned a PhD at the University of California, Berkeley, and a BS and an MS at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has taught at Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) for 35 years (1985-2020) and is a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers. He also remains a registered professional engineer of Malaysia. In 2019, Dr. Low received the Thomas A. Middlebrooks Award from ASCE.
Review :
'Theory is most valuable when it can be used to solve practical problems. This excellent book will enable engineers to leverage probability theory in developing effective real-world solutions.'
-- Robert B. Gilbert, Chair in Civil Engineering and Distinguished Teaching Professor, The University of Texas at Austin, USA
'The book’s discussion of uncertainty, risk assessment, and the integration of modern computational approaches is excellent. With its systematic treatment of methodologies such as Monte Carlo simulation, Excel-based computational methods, and modern data statistics, the book equips engineers with the tools needed to quantify and manage uncertainty. It is a significant contribution'
-- Gregory B. Baecher, G.L. Martin Institute Professor of Engineering, University of Maryland, USA
' The use of reliability methods in Excel® to complement Eurocode procedures contributes to the immense practical aspect, and many examples are provided'
-- Herbert H. Einstein, Professor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
