Solutions For Exercises: Reliability of Structures (2nd Edition) by Nowak & Collins
Solutions For Exercises: Reliability of Structures (2nd Edition) by Nowak & Collins
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ssm
Solutions to Problems in Chapter 2 pp. 1-18
mtt
Solutions to Problems in Chapter 3 pp. 19-28
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SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS IN CHAPTER 2
Problem 2.1. The results of tests to determine the modulus of rupture (MOR) for a set of
timber beams are shown in Table P2.1.
A. Plot the relative frequency and cumulative frequency histograms.
B. Calculate the sample mean, standard deviation, and coefficient of variation.
C. Plot the data on normal probability paper.
Solution:
A. For the histogram plots, the interval size is chosen to be 250. There are 45 data points.
Relative Frequency
0.18
0.16
0.14
0.12
0.1
0.08
0.06
0.04
0.02
0
3250-3500
3750-4000
4250-4500
4750-5000
5250-5500
5750-6000
6250-6500
6750-7000
7250-7500
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Cumulative Frequency
1.2
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
3250-3500
3750-4000
4250-4500
4750-5000
5250-5500
5750-6000
6250-6500
6750-7000
7250-7500
B. Using Eqns. 2.25 and 2.26, sample mean = x = 5031 and sample standard deviation = sX =
880.4. The coefficient of variation based on sample parameters is s X / x = 0.175.
C. The step-by-step procedure described in Section 2.5 is followed to construct the plot on
normal probability paper.
3
Standard Normal Variate
-1
-2
-3
0 2000 4000 6000 8000
MOR
-------------------------------------------
Problem 2.2. A set of test data for the load-carrying capacity of a member is shown in Table
P2.2.
A. Plot the test data on normal probability paper.
B. Plot a normal distribution on the same probability paper. Use the sample mean and
standard deviation as estimates of the true mean and standard deviation.
C. Plot a lognormal distribution on the same normal probability paper. Use the sample mean
and standard deviation as estimates of the true mean and standard deviation.
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D. Plot the relative frequency and cumulative frequency histograms.
Solution:
A. Using Eqns. 2.25 and 2.26, the sample mean, sample standard deviation, and sample
coefficient of variation are
x = 4.127 s X = 0.1770 CoV = s X / x = 0.04289
To plot on normal probability paper, we follow the step-by-step procedure outlined in
Section 2.5.
3
Standard Normal
2
1
Variate
0
-1 3.5 3.7 3.9 4.1 4.3 4.5
-2
-3
Capacity
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B. See part A. To plot the normal distribution on normal probability paper: (1) Calculate
values of the standard normal variable z for some arbitrary values of x (in ascending
order) in the range of interest. The formula for z is
x − µ X x − 4.127
z= =
σX 0.1770
(2) Plot z versus x on standard linear graph paper. The plot is shown in the graph in Part
A. Note that the relationship between z and x is linear, so only two points are needed to
plot the graph.
C. To plot a lognormal distribution, we need the lognormal distribution parameters. We will
assume that µX= x and σX=sX.
σln2 X = ln(1 + VX2 ) = ln(1 + (0.04289) 2 ) ⇒ σln X = 0.04287
µ ln X = ln(µ X ) − 0.5σln2 X = ln(4.127) − 0.5(0.04287) 2 = 1.417
To plot the lognormal distribution on normal probability paper: (1) Calculate FX(x) for
some arbitrary values of x (in ascending order) in the range of interest. FX(x) is the
lognormal distribution, and it can be calculated as shown in Section 2.4.3. (2) Use the
values of FX(xi) as the values of pi for plotting points on normal probability paper. (3)
Calculate zi = Φ-1(pi). (4) Plot zi versus xi. The plot is shown in the graph in Part A.
D. There are 19 data points. The interval size was chosen to be 0.05.
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Relative Frequency Plot
0.18
0.16
Relative frequency
0.14
0.12
0.1
0.08
0.06
0.04
0.02
0
3.70-3.75
3.8-3.85
3.9-3.95
4.0-4.05
4.1-4.15
4.2-4.25
4.3-4.35
4.4-4.45
Intervals
100.00%
80.00%
60.00%
40.00%
20.00%
.00%
3.70-3.75
3.8-3.85
3.9-3.95
4.0-4.05
4.1-4.15
4.2-4.25
4.3-4.35
4.4-4.45
Intervals
--------------------------------------
Problem 2.3. For the data in Table 2.5, calculate the statistical estimate of the correlation
coefficient using Equation (2.99).
Solution:
The formula is
n
n
∑ (x i − x )(yi − y ) ∑ x i yi − nxy
1 1 i =1
ρˆ XY = i =1
=
n −1 s Xs Y n −1 s Xs Y
Note that is doesn’t matter which variable is x and which is y. There are 100 data points.
After manipulating the data, you should find:
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′
for f c x = 2743.82 s X = 520.082
for E y = 2991380 s Y = 361245
ρˆ XY = 0.806
--------------------------------------------
Problem 2.4. A variable X is to be modelled using a uniform distribution. The lower bound
value is 5, and the upper bound value is 36.
A. Calculate the mean and standard deviation of X.
B. What is the probability that the value of X is between 10 and 20?
C. What is the probability that the value of X is greater than 31?
D. Plot the CDF on normal probability paper.
Solution:
A. The value of a is 5, and the value of b is 36. (Refer to Eqn. 2.31.) Using Eqns. 2.32
and 2.33,
a+b
µX = = 20.5
2
(b − a ) 2
σ2X = = 80.1 ⇒ σX = 8.95
12
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Uniform distribution
0
0 10 20 30 40
-1
-2
-3
X
----------------------------------------
Problem 2.5. The dead load D on a structure is to be modelled as a normal random variable
with a mean value of 100 and a coefficient of variation of 8%.
A. Plot the PDF and CDF on standard graph paper.
B. Plot the CDF on normal probability paper.
C. Determine the probability that D is less than or equal to 95.
D. Determine the probability that D is between 95 and 105.
Solution:
A. The formulas for PDF and CDF are given by Eqns. 2.34 and 2.39. The value of σD is
VDµD = 0.08(100)=8. Appendix B can be used to determine values of CDF, or a
computer spreadsheet program can be used.
PDF Function
0.06
0.05
0.04
PDF
0.03
0.02
0.01
0
70 80 90 100 110 120 130
x