Applications of Probabilty and Statistics to Engineering Analyses--Some Mulitidisciplinary Research Experience

Abstract

Do we need to employ probability and/or statistics in engineering analyses? How far can we go if robability and/or statistics are used in the engineering analysis? Do you think a prerequisite probability or statistics course should be added to an engineer curriculum? What is the probabilistic risk assessment of a nuclear power plant? Is it meaningful? The major purpose of the present talk is not to offer answers to the above problems. With so many experienced statisticians in the audiences, the speaker also dares not to talk about probability and statistical “theories”in his talk. Instead, some personal research experience will be introduced briefly. The experience covers random vibration analysis, structural safety analysis, damage accumulation analysis, earthquake engineering analysis, bioengineering modeling, and probabilistic risk assessment in aerospace and nuclear industry. It is hoped that through the exchange of information, the statisticians can have some ideas about what they can offer to the engineering society, and the speaker can have a better understanding about the depth of the statistics.