Stochastic Processes in Engineering Systems


Book Description

This book is a revision of Stochastic Processes in Information and Dynamical Systems written by the first author (E.W.) and published in 1971. The book was originally written, and revised, to provide a graduate level text in stochastic processes for students whose primary interest is its applications. It treats both the traditional topic of sta tionary processes in linear time-invariant systems as well as the more modern theory of stochastic systems in which dynamic structure plays a profound role. Our aim is to provide a high-level, yet readily acces sible, treatment of those topics in the theory of continuous-parameter stochastic processes that are important in the analysis of information and dynamical systems. The theory of stochastic processes can easily become abstract. In dealing with it from an applied point of view, we have found it difficult to decide on the appropriate level of rigor. We intend to provide just enough mathematical machinery so that important results can be stated PREFACE vi with precision and clarity; so much ofthe theory of stochastic processes is inherently simple if the suitable framework is provided. The price of providing this framework seems worth paying even though the ul timate goal is in applications and not the mathematics per se.




Stochastic Methods in Engineering


Book Description

The increasing industrial demand for reliable quantification and management of uncertainty in product performance forces engineers to employ probabilistic models in analysis and design, a fact that has occasioned considerable research and development activities in the field. Notes on Stochastics eventually address the topic of computational stochastic mechanics. The single volume uniquely presents tutorials on essential probabilistics and statistics, recent finite element methods for stochastic analysis by Taylor series expansion as well as Monte Carlo simulation techniques. Design improvement and robust optimisation represent key issues as does reliability assessment. The subject is developed for solids and structures of elastic and elasto-plastic material, large displacements and material deformation processes; principles are transferable to various disciplines. A chapter is devoted to the statistical comparison of systems exhibiting random scatter. Where appropriate examples illustrate the theory, problems to solve appear instructive; applications are presented with relevance to engineering practice. The book, emanating from a university course, includes research and development in the field of computational stochastic analysis and optimization. It is intended for advanced students in engineering and for professionals who wish to extend their knowledge and skills in computational mechanics to the domain of stochastics. Contents: Introduction, Randomness, Structural analysis by Taylor series expansion, Design optimization, Robustness, Monte Carlo techniques for system response and design improvement, Reliability, Time variant phenomena, Material deformation processes, Analysis and comparison of data sets, Probability distribution of test functions.




Stochastic Processes in Science, Engineering and Finance


Book Description

This book presents a self-contained introduction to stochastic processes with emphasis on their applications in science, engineering, finance, computer science, and operations research. It provides theoretical foundations for modeling time-dependent random phenomena in these areas and illustrates their application by analyzing numerous practical examples. The treatment assumes few prerequisites, requiring only the standard mathematical maturity acquired by undergraduate applied science students. It includes an introductory chapter that summarizes the basic probability theory needed as background. Numerous exercises reinforce the concepts and techniques discussed and allow readers to assess their grasp of the subject. Solutions to most of the exercises are provided in an appendix. While focused primarily on practical aspects, the presentation includes some important proofs along with more challenging examples and exercises for those more theoretically inclined. Mastering the contents of this book prepares readers to apply stochastic modeling in their own fields and enables them to work more creatively with software designed for dealing with the data analysis aspects of stochastic processes.




Stochastic Processes and Applications


Book Description

This book presents various results and techniques from the theory of stochastic processes that are useful in the study of stochastic problems in the natural sciences. The main focus is analytical methods, although numerical methods and statistical inference methodologies for studying diffusion processes are also presented. The goal is the development of techniques that are applicable to a wide variety of stochastic models that appear in physics, chemistry and other natural sciences. Applications such as stochastic resonance, Brownian motion in periodic potentials and Brownian motors are studied and the connection between diffusion processes and time-dependent statistical mechanics is elucidated. The book contains a large number of illustrations, examples, and exercises. It will be useful for graduate-level courses on stochastic processes for students in applied mathematics, physics and engineering. Many of the topics covered in this book (reversible diffusions, convergence to equilibrium for diffusion processes, inference methods for stochastic differential equations, derivation of the generalized Langevin equation, exit time problems) cannot be easily found in textbook form and will be useful to both researchers and students interested in the applications of stochastic processes.




Stochastic Optimization Methods


Book Description

This book examines optimization problems that in practice involve random model parameters. It details the computation of robust optimal solutions, i.e., optimal solutions that are insensitive with respect to random parameter variations, where appropriate deterministic substitute problems are needed. Based on the probability distribution of the random data and using decision theoretical concepts, optimization problems under stochastic uncertainty are converted into appropriate deterministic substitute problems. Due to the probabilities and expectations involved, the book also shows how to apply approximative solution techniques. Several deterministic and stochastic approximation methods are provided: Taylor expansion methods, regression and response surface methods (RSM), probability inequalities, multiple linearization of survival/failure domains, discretization methods, convex approximation/deterministic descent directions/efficient points, stochastic approximation and gradient procedures and differentiation formulas for probabilities and expectations. In the third edition, this book further develops stochastic optimization methods. In particular, it now shows how to apply stochastic optimization methods to the approximate solution of important concrete problems arising in engineering, economics and operations research.




Stochastic Models in Reliability Engineering


Book Description

This book is a collective work by many leading scientists, analysts, mathematicians, and engineers who have been working at the front end of reliability science and engineering. The book covers conventional and contemporary topics in reliability science, all of which have seen extended research activities in recent years. The methods presented in this book are real-world examples that demonstrate improvements in essential reliability and availability for industrial equipment such as medical magnetic resonance imaging, power systems, traction drives for a search and rescue helicopter, and air conditioning systems. The book presents real case studies of redundant multi-state air conditioning systems for chemical laboratories and covers assessments of reliability and fault tolerance and availability calculations. Conventional and contemporary topics in reliability engineering are discussed, including degradation, networks, and dynamic reliability, resilience, and multi-state systems, all of which are relatively new topics to the field. The book is aimed at engineers and scientists, as well as postgraduate students involved in reliability design, analysis, and experiments and applied probability and statistics.




Stationary Stochastic Processes for Scientists and Engineers


Book Description

Suitable for a one-semester course, this text teaches students how to use stochastic processes efficiently. Carefully balancing mathematical rigor and ease of exposition, the book provides students with a sufficient understanding of the theory and a practical appreciation of how it is used in real-life situations. Special emphasis is on the interpretation of various statistical models and concepts as well as the types of questions statistical analysis can answer. To enable hands-on practice, MATLAB code is available online.




Stochastic Processes and Filtering Theory


Book Description

This unified treatment of linear and nonlinear filtering theory presents material previously available only in journals, and in terms accessible to engineering students. Its sole prerequisites are advanced calculus, the theory of ordinary differential equations, and matrix analysis. Although theory is emphasized, the text discusses numerous practical applications as well. Taking the state-space approach to filtering, this text models dynamical systems by finite-dimensional Markov processes, outputs of stochastic difference, and differential equations. Starting with background material on probability theory and stochastic processes, the author introduces and defines the problems of filtering, prediction, and smoothing. He presents the mathematical solutions to nonlinear filtering problems, and he specializes the nonlinear theory to linear problems. The final chapters deal with applications, addressing the development of approximate nonlinear filters, and presenting a critical analysis of their performance.




Discrete Stochastic Processes


Book Description

Stochastic processes are found in probabilistic systems that evolve with time. Discrete stochastic processes change by only integer time steps (for some time scale), or are characterized by discrete occurrences at arbitrary times. Discrete Stochastic Processes helps the reader develop the understanding and intuition necessary to apply stochastic process theory in engineering, science and operations research. The book approaches the subject via many simple examples which build insight into the structure of stochastic processes and the general effect of these phenomena in real systems. The book presents mathematical ideas without recourse to measure theory, using only minimal mathematical analysis. In the proofs and explanations, clarity is favored over formal rigor, and simplicity over generality. Numerous examples are given to show how results fail to hold when all the conditions are not satisfied. Audience: An excellent textbook for a graduate level course in engineering and operations research. Also an invaluable reference for all those requiring a deeper understanding of the subject.




Random Processes for Engineers


Book Description

This engaging introduction to random processes provides students with the critical tools needed to design and evaluate engineering systems that must operate reliably in uncertain environments. A brief review of probability theory and real analysis of deterministic functions sets the stage for understanding random processes, whilst the underlying measure theoretic notions are explained in an intuitive, straightforward style. Students will learn to manage the complexity of randomness through the use of simple classes of random processes, statistical means and correlations, asymptotic analysis, sampling, and effective algorithms. Key topics covered include: • Calculus of random processes in linear systems • Kalman and Wiener filtering • Hidden Markov models for statistical inference • The estimation maximization (EM) algorithm • An introduction to martingales and concentration inequalities. Understanding of the key concepts is reinforced through over 100 worked examples and 300 thoroughly tested homework problems (half of which are solved in detail at the end of the book).