Probabilistic properties of thin-walled elements

Thin-walled structures are relatively complicated structural systems governed by many parameters. These include the dimensions, the material properties and imperfection measures. In principle all of these are not known with certainty at the design stage, and even after construction some degree of uncertainty remains. The present paper reviews briefly how such uncertainties are considered in modern structural reliability theory to estimate nominal probabilities of failure. An example application will be given to illustrate the process of estimating the probability density function for the failure stress of stiffened plates subject to axial forces.