System Identification Methods Applied to Measured Seismic Response

A unified Bayesian statistical framework is described for system identification which can be used to extract important information for earthquake-resistant design from the measured seismic response of structures. In this approach, the "best" (optimal) models within a chosen class of models are those which are locally most probable based on the available data. Using the methodology, one can determine the prediction accuracy of the optimal structural models, the precision of the parameter estimates of these models as well as the precision of the optimal prediction-error probability models, the updated predictive probability density function for the structural response even when there are multiple optimal models, and a principle of parsimony for comparing different classes of models on the same data. The application of modal identification to measured seismic response from some buildings, a bridge and an off-shore platform is reviewed. An example is also given of how the methodology can be used to handle the nonuniqueness in structural model identification. This often arises in practice because of the low density of sensors which is typical of structural seismic instrumentation arrays

Scientific Progress on the Semantic View : An Account of Scientific Progress as Objective Logical and Empirical Strength Increments

The aim of this master thesis is to make a convincing argument that scientific progress can be spoken of in objective terms. In order to make this argument I will propose a philosophical theory of scientific progress. Two concepts will be constructed with this aim in mind, both which are types of strength measures on scientific theories. The first concept, that of logical strength, pertains to the way a theory may exclude, or permit less, model classes compared to another theory. The second concept, that of empirical strength, pertains to an objective measure of the informational content of data models, defined in terms of Kolmogorov complexity. This latter idea stems from communication and computational theory. Scientific progress is then defined as the interaction, or the stepwise increases, of these two strength measures. Central for the conception of a scientific theory is the philosophical framework known as The Semantic View of Scientific Theories. This view can briefly be characterized as an empirical extension of Tarskian model-theory. Another central notion for this theory of scientific progress is the philosophical or metaphysical thesis called structural realism. Both will accordingly be explained and argued for. Finally, as a test on this proposed theory of scientific progress, it will be applied to two examples of theory transition from the history of physical theory. I conclude that the proposed theory handles these two cases well

Difference and Necessity: Dispositionalism, Deleuze, and the Finite Genesis of Transfinite Truths

Difference and Necessity: Dispositionalism, Deleuze, and the Finite Genesis of Transfinite Truth

Automated Deduction – CADE 28

This open access book constitutes the proceeding of the 28th International Conference on Automated Deduction, CADE 28, held virtually in July 2021. The 29 full papers and 7 system descriptions presented together with 2 invited papers were carefully reviewed and selected from 76 submissions. CADE is the major forum for the presentation of research in all aspects of automated deduction, including foundations, applications, implementations, and practical experience. The papers are organized in the following topics: Logical foundations; theory and principles; implementation and application; ATP and AI; and system descriptions