ABSTRACT
The purpose of this chapter is to review aspects of the theory of probability and statistics needed for reliability analysis of structures.
2.1 BASIC DEFINITIONS
The concepts of sample space and event can best be demonstrated by considering an experiment. For example, the experiment might test material strength, measure the depth of a beam, or determine occurrence (or nonoccurrence) of a truck on a particular bridge during a specified period of time. In these experiments, the outcomes are unpredictable. All possible outcomes of an experiment comprise a sample space. Combinations of one or more of the possible outcomes or ranges of outcomes can be defined as events.
