2. Reliability and Risk Analysis

Reliability and Risk Analysis, while related are distinct. It is very important to first study the fundamentals before one goes into actual analysis. This chapter deals with the relation between Reliability and Risk Analysis. Reliability Analysis basically uses the basic principles of probability and statistics and calculates Reliability of an element or the structure as a whole. So, from that point of view Reliability Analysis can be considered as a sophisticated term for probabilistic Analysis. In this book, previous chapters dealt with the basic concepts of random variables, their density functions and cumulative density functions or distribution functions. The concepts of regression analysis were applied to develop a relation between dependent and independent variables and then obtain distribution function of desired. Another term so often used in the general context of Reliability Analysis and that is Risk (the related field is Risk Analysis). Illustrative examples are solved to determine reliability and risk of few selected structures.