This article discusses statistical concepts that form the basis of most of the following articles on specific areas of applied statistics and data analysis. It reviews some of the basic concepts that must be understood to successfully apply the statistical procedures, including probability, random variables, degrees of freedom, confidence limits and intervals, and reliability. Descriptive statistics, measures of central tendency, confidence limits and intervals, and degrees of freedom are also discussed.

This article presents definitions, equations, and notational conventions that are used widely in statistical analysis. It provides information on a basic framework for the selection of a statistical test. The article outlines the basic elements common to all statistical tests. Illustrations of specific statistical tests and the concept of confidence limits are introduced. The article provides an overview of sampling issues, with guidance on both selecting a sampling method and determining the number of units to sample. One-way analysis of the variance, correlation, and simple regression are also illustrated.

This article reviews the planning of fatigue experiments, including the structure of a test plan, randomization, and nuisance variables. The statistical characterization of the S/N (stress/life) or e/N (strain/life) response of a single material tested under a single condition is discussed. The techniques for defining a mean fatigue curve and evaluating scatter or variability about that mean are explained. The article presents the standard techniques for statistical characterization of the fatigue strength or fatigue limit of a single material by use of the Probit method, the up-and-down (staircase) method, and two-point procedures. Stress-level selection methods are also presented. The article discusses the comparison of the fatigue behavior of two or more materials for data generated at a single stress or strain level. Treatments to compare data generated over a range of stress or strain levels are included. The article also summarizes the consolidation of fatigue data generated at different conditions.

Statistical analysis of mechanical property data is the most reliable method for determination of minimum design allowables. This article describes the general procedures used to determine design allowables. It provides information on the determination of a distribution form. The article presents statistical methods which help in determining design allowables. These methods include direct computation for normal distribution, direct computation for an unknown distribution, computation of derived properties, and regression analysis. The article concludes with information on low- and elevated-temperature design properties.

A corrosionist refers to a corrosion engineer, a corrosion technician, a corrosion scientist, a chemist, a physicist, an electrical engineer, a mechanical engineer, a coatings or plastics salesperson, a corrosion consultant, or a plant operator. This article presents an overview of statistical inference and addresses the commonly used statistical tools and tests. It describes the science and engineering of materials, including metals, polymers, and ceramics. The article explores the principles of various surface-sensitive techniques and the usefulness and limitations of these techniques. The techniques are divided into those that provide insight into surface topography and surface structure, and those that provide understanding of chemical nature and identity. The article presents a list of web sites and print media addressing corrosion and related topics in five different areas: societies and associations; corrosion standards, specifications, and recommended practices; sources of corrosion information; corrosion databases and data compilations; and other web resources.

This article primarily considers the problem of sampling bulk materials, including minerals, metals, environmentally important substances, and industrial raw materials and waste products. It provides useful information on sample types, sampling plan, optimizing sampling resources, practical aspects of sampling, and how to ensure the quality of sampling.

This article discusses the failure mechanism of springs. It describes the critical application factors that affect spring fatigue performance. These include: material type and strength; stress conditions; surface quality; manufacturing processes; rate of application of load; and embrittlement or cracking. The article summarizes the methods of statistical analysis of S-N data for general comparisons of fatigue strength of spring steels. The fatigue performance of springs is illustrated by Goodman diagrams. The article also exemplifies the examination of failed springs.

Quantifying microstructural parameters has received considerable attention and success in developing procedures and using such data to develop structure/property relationships has been achieved. This article reviews many of the simple stereological counting measurements of volume fraction, grain structure (two-phase grain structures, and nonequiaxed grain structures), grain size, and inclusion content. It also reviews simple relationships between number of grains per unit area, number of intersections of a line of known length with particle or grain, and number of interceptions of particles or grains by a line of known length.

Probability of detection (POD) assesses the performance of a non-destructive evaluation (NDE)-based inspection, which is a method used to determine the capability of an inspection as a function of defect type and defect size. This article provides an overview of the concept of POD, why it is needed, the history behind the development of POD, how POD assessments are performed, and how modeling and simulation can be integrated into the execution of a POD assessment. It describes the methods by which POD is determined. This includes detail on the experimental process to acquire the needed data, the mathematical methods to obtain a POD curve, and techniques to assess uncertainty in the POD curve as it is obtained from a limited data set. The concept of model-assisted POD (MAPOD) is introduced, with additional details and representative examples of MAPOD.

This article reviews weld quality monitoring considerations for two automotive materials, steel and aluminum, with a focus on photosensor technology. It provides an overview of the process description, process parameters, and weld characteristics of laser welding. The article discusses real-time or in-process monitoring, which is done with optical, acoustic, and/or charged-particle sensors. It highlights the advantages, applications, and selection criteria of weld monitoring system and concludes with examples of laser weld monitoring in the production of tailor-welded blanks.