Keywords
Uncertainty quantification, model and damage
identification, lifecycle reliability, robust design,
vibration control
Expertise
To assess the performance of a complex system properly
it is crucial to understand its uncertainties and associated
risks; without this knowledge it is not possible to develop
proper mitigation strategies.
The University’s Institute of Risk and Uncertainty works
closely with industry to examine the challenges in the
fields of architecture, building design and construction.
Our multidisciplinary research team includes experts
from architecture, engineering, environmental sciences,
financial and actuarial mathematics, computer science,
economics and finance, social sciences and psychology.
This gives us a large pool of methodologies, tools and
experience to explore the issues of risk and resilience
associated with building design, climate change, reliability
engineering, software reliability and materials science.
Our work also touches on financial modelling, methods
to reduce any socio-political harm and critical incident
management.
The uncertainties we consider do not only include the
inherent variability in materials, structural properties and
loads. They also concern external uncertainties and risks,
such as: the effects of climate change (in the form of
extreme storms or floods) and human impacts (such as
blasts by terrorists).
Given the degree of uncertainty, we focus on a realistic
numerical assessment of the behaviour and reliability
of structures and systems under different scenarios.
We employ techniques such as stochastic simulation,
model updating and system identification to achieve
efficient and economic practical implementations such
as vibration control, maintenance scheduling and quality
management for the entire lifecycle of our structures
and system.
Our expertise can be used in a large variety of
applications, not just limited to engineering. Our
methods, technologies and services are suitable
for any problems which involve uncertainties
needing appropriate quantification, processing
and interpretation of results. Examples include
the assessment of performance and reliability of
structures and systems of any type, eg:
--
Historical bridges and buildings
--
Load-carrying structures for car production
facilities
--
Energy supply systems
--
Oil drilling platforms.
Our expertise in model updating, system and
damage identification, and vibration control can
be applied to aircraft structures, machinery, quality
control in composite material production, and the
assessment of deterioration in offshore structures.
Robust design approaches help industrial partners
improve aerospace structures, vehicle crashworthi-
ness and energy systems, including availability
assurance and infrastructure security.
Capabilities and facilities
•
Risk analysis, reliability assessments and
robust design
•
Advice and expertise in maintenance scheduling,
lifecycle analysis and quality management
•
Support for model updating and in-system and
damage identification
•
Testing of structural dynamics and vibration control
•
Structural dynamics test facilities
•
COSSAN-X software for uncertainty quantification,
management and design.
Relevant centres and groups
•
Institute for Risk and Uncertainty.
Risk, Safety & Security
123
2.3
Robust and reliable structures
Also see:
Energy & Sustainability –
7.
Living in the sustainable built
environment, page 80
Materials, Advanced Design &
Manufacturing –
3.3
Acoustic materials, page 100
Risk, Safety & Security –
1.2
Risk management in the built
environment, page 116
