Chapter 6: Two or More Random Variables

With the aid of the theory of a single random variable, we were able to calculate the reliability of a structure characterized by such a variable, for example that of a bar under a random tensile force, with strength treated as a deterministic quantity. We considered also the “reverse” example, where the force was assumed to be given and the strength considered as a random variable. In practice, however, both force and strength are random. Moreover, the beam may have to bear several concentrated loads rather than a single one, and so on. In these circumstances the theory must be extended to the case of multiple random variables…