Structural Reliability Analysis Using Adaptive Artificial Neural Networks

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wellison José de Santana Gomes
Keyword(s):  
Neural Networks ◽  
Artificial Neural Networks ◽  
Reliability Analysis ◽  
Structural Reliability ◽  
Limit State ◽  
Surrogate Models ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Computational Effort ◽  
State Function ◽  
Artificial Neural

Abstract Structural reliability theory has been applied to many engineering problems in the last decades, with the primary objective of quantifying the safety of such structures. Although in some cases approximated methods may be used, many times the only alternatives are those involving more demanding approaches, such as Monte Carlo simulation (MCS). In this context, surrogate models have been widely employed as an attempt to keep the computational effort acceptable. In this paper, an adaptive approach for reliability analysis using surrogate models, proposed in the literature in the context of Kriging and polynomial chaos expansions (PCEs), is adapted for the case of multilayer perceptron (MLP) artificial neural networks (ANNs). The methodology is employed in the solution of three benchmark reliability problems and compared to MCS and other methods from the literature. In all cases, the ANNs led to results very close to those obtained by MCS and required much less limit state function evaluations. Also, the performance of the ANNs was found comparable, in terms of accuracy and efficiency, to the performance of the other methods.

Shallow and Deep Artificial Neural Networks for Structural Reliability Analysis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wellison J. S. Gomes
Keyword(s):  
Neural Networks ◽  
Artificial Neural Networks ◽  
Reliability Analysis ◽  
Structural Reliability ◽  
Deep Neural Networks ◽  
Surrogate Models ◽  
The Other ◽  
Computational Costs ◽  
Structural Reliability Analysis ◽  
Artificial Neural

Abstract Surrogate models are efficient tools which have been successfully applied in structural reliability analysis, as an attempt to keep the computational costs acceptable. Among the surrogate models available in the literature, Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) have been attracting research interest for many years. However, the ANNs used in structural reliability analysis are usually the shallow ones, based on an architecture consisting of neurons organized in three layers, the so-called input, hidden and output layers. On the other hand, with the advent of deep learning, ANNs with one input, one output, and several hidden layers, known as deep neural networks, have been increasingly applied in engineering and other areas. Considering that many recent publications have shown advantages of deep over shallow ANNs, the present paper aims at comparing these types of neural networks in the context of structural reliability. By applying shallow and deep ANNs in the solution of four benchmark structural reliability problems from the literature, employing Monte Carlo simulation and adaptive experimental designs, it is shown that, although good results are obtained for both types of ANNs, deep ANNs usually outperform the shallow ones.

scholarly journals Fast Motion Model of Road Vehicles with Artificial Neural Networks

Electronics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 928
Author(s):  
Ferenc Hegedüs ◽  
Péter Gáspár ◽  
Tamás Bécsi
Keyword(s):  
Neural Networks ◽  
Artificial Neural Networks ◽  
Dynamic Model ◽  
Piecewise Linear ◽  
Complex Problem ◽  
Computational Effort ◽  
Road Vehicles ◽  
Vehicle Motion ◽  
Artificial Neural ◽  
Original Dynamic

Nonlinear optimization-based motion planning algorithms have been successfully used for dynamically feasible trajectory planning of road vehicles. However, the main drawback of these methods is their significant computational effort and thus high runtime, which makes real-time application a complex problem. Addressing this field, this paper proposes an algorithm for fast simulation of road vehicle motion based on artificial neural networks that can be used in optimization-based trajectory planners. The neural networks are trained with supervised learning techniques to predict the future state of the vehicle based on its current state and driving inputs. Learning data is provided for a wide variety of randomly generated driving scenarios by simulation of a dynamic vehicle model. The realistic random driving maneuvers are created on the basis of piecewise linear travel velocity and road curvature profiles that are used for the planning of public roads. The trained neural networks are then used in a feedback loop with several variables being calculated by additional numerical integration to provide all the outputs of the original dynamic model. The presented model can be capable of short-term vehicle motion simulation with sufficient precision while having a considerably faster runtime than the original dynamic model.

Response surface method strategies coupled with NLFEA for structural reliability analysis of prestressed bridges

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia J. Sarmiento Nova ◽  
Jaime Gonzalez-Libreros ◽  
Gabriel Sas ◽  
Rafael A. Sanabria Díaz ◽  
Maria C. A. Texeira da Silva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reliability Analysis ◽  
Response Surface ◽  
Response Surface Method ◽  
Structural Reliability ◽  
Limit State ◽  
Material Behavior ◽  
Nonlinear Material ◽  
State Function ◽  
Surface Method ◽  
Highly Nonlinear

<p>The Response Surface Method (RSM) has become an essential tool to solve structural reliability problems due to its accuracy, efficacy, and facility for coupling with Nonlinear Finite Element Analysis (NLFEA). In this paper, some strategies to improve the RSM efficacy without compromising its accuracy are tested. Initially, each strategy is implemented to assess the safety level of a highly nonlinear explicit limit state function. The strategy with the best results is then identified and used to carry out a reliability analysis of a prestressed concrete bridge, considering the nonlinear material behavior through NLFEA simulation. The calculated value of &#120573; is compared with the target value established in Eurocode for ULS. The results showed how RSM can be a practical methodology and how the improvements presented can reduce the computational cost of a traditional RSM giving a good alternative to simulation methods such as Monte Carlo.</p>

Reliability analysis of mooring lines for floating structures using ANN-BN inference

2020 ◽  
pp. 147509022092520
Author(s):  
Yuliang Zhao ◽  
Sheng Dong ◽  
Fengyuan Jiang
Keyword(s):  
Neural Networks ◽  
Artificial Neural Networks ◽  
Reliability Analysis ◽  
Failure Probability ◽  
Environmental Data ◽  
Mooring Lines ◽  
Widespread Application ◽  
Floating Structures ◽  
Extreme Response ◽  
Artificial Neural

The harsh marine environment is a significant threat to the safety of floating structure systems. To address this, mooring systems have seen widespread application as an important component in the stabilization of floating structures. This article proposes a methodology to assess the reliability of mooring lines under given extreme environmental conditions based on artificial neural network–Bayesian network inference. Different types of artificial neural networks, including radial basis function neural networks and back propagation neural networks, are adopted to predict the extreme response of mooring lines according to a series of measured environmental data. A failure database under extreme sea conditions is then established in accordance with the failure criterion of mooring systems. There is a failure of mooring lines when the maximum tension exceeds the allowable breaking strength. Finally, the reliability analysis of moored floating structures under different load directions is conducted using Bayesian networks. To demonstrate the proposed methodology, the failure probability of a sample semi-submersible platform at a water depth of 1500 m is estimated. This approach utilizes artificial neural networks’ capacity for calculation efficiency and validates artificial neural networks for the response prediction of floating structures. Furthermore, it can also be employed to estimate the failure probability of other complex floating structures.

First-Order Reliability Method for Structural Reliability Analysis in the Presence of Random and Interval Variables

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Umberto Alibrandi ◽  
C. G. Koh
Keyword(s):  
Reliability Analysis ◽  
Structural Reliability ◽  
Limit State ◽  
Computational Cost ◽  
Computational Effort ◽  
Stochastic Dynamic ◽  
First Order Reliability Method ◽  
First Order ◽  
Structural Reliability Analysis ◽  
Reliability Method

This paper presents a novel procedure based on first-order reliability method (FORM) for structural reliability analysis in the presence of random parameters and interval uncertain parameters. In the proposed formulation, the hybrid problem is reduced to standard reliability problems, where the limit state functions are defined only in terms of the random variables. Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) for hybrid reliability analysis (HRA) is presented, and it is shown that it requires a tremendous computational effort; FORM for HRA is more efficient but still demanding. The computational cost is significantly reduced through a simplified procedure, which gives good approximations of the design points, by requiring only three classical FORMs and one interval analysis (IA), developed herein through an optimization procedure. FORM for HRA and its simplified formulation achieve a much improved efficiency than MCS by several orders of magnitude, and it can thus be applied to real-world engineering problems. Representative examples of stochastic dynamic analysis and performance-based engineering are presented.

An Efficient Reliability Analysis Method for Structures With Epistemic Uncertainty Using Evidence Theory

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhe Zhang ◽  
Chao Jiang ◽  
G. Gary Wang ◽  
Xu Han
Keyword(s):  
Reliability Analysis ◽  
Structural Reliability ◽  
Epistemic Uncertainty ◽  
Limit State ◽  
Computational Cost ◽  
Evidence Theory ◽  
State Function ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Design Point ◽  
Engineering Problems

Evidence theory has a strong ability to deal with the epistemic uncertainty, based on which the uncertain parameters existing in many complex engineering problems with limited information can be conveniently treated. However, the heavy computational cost caused by its discrete property severely influences the practicability of evidence theory, which has become a main difficulty in structural reliability analysis using evidence theory. This paper aims to develop an efficient method to evaluate the reliability for structures with evidence variables, and hence improves the applicability of evidence theory for engineering problems. A non-probabilistic reliability index approach is introduced to obtain a design point on the limit-state surface. An assistant area is then constructed through the obtained design point, based on which a small number of focal elements can be picked out for extreme analysis instead of using all the elements. The vertex method is used for extreme analysis to obtain the minimum and maximum values of the limit-state function over a focal element. A reliability interval composed of the belief measure and the plausibility measure is finally obtained for the structure. Two numerical examples are investigated to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Reliability Analysis of Foundation Pit by Improved Response Surface Method

2011 ◽  
Vol 147 ◽  
pp. 197-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiang Zhou ◽  
Jing Cao ◽  
Yu He ◽  
Jie Song
Keyword(s):  
Reliability Analysis ◽  
Response Surface ◽  
Structural Reliability ◽  
Lateral Displacement ◽  
Limit State ◽  
Uniform Design ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
State Function ◽  
Foundation Pit ◽  
Improved Response Surface Method

Lacking of explicit limit state function (LSF) will result large quantities of computational efforts for a FEAM based structural reliability analysis. An improved response surface (RS) method is proposed to analyze the failure probability of foundation pit through combining uniform design (UD) and non-parametric regression (NPR). Deferent levels of design parameters are first delicately selected according to UD and then FEAM is used to analysis corresponding pit response parameters including maximum lateral displacement of wall, settlement of ground, safety factor of overall stability, safety factors of against overturning, heave and piping. The RS relationship is then established through NPR based on inputs and responses. At last, a direct Mont Carlo Simulation is carried out to obtain the probability density function of response parameters.

scholarly journals Hybrid Reliability Analysis for Spacecraft Docking Lock with Random and Interval Uncertainty

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianguo Zhang ◽  
Jiwei Qiu ◽  
Pidong Wang
Keyword(s):  
Reliability Analysis ◽  
Structural Reliability ◽  
Limit State ◽  
Random Variables ◽  
Simple Problem ◽  
State Function ◽  
Limit State Function ◽  
Interval Variables ◽  
Reliability Method ◽  
Hybrid Reliability

This paper presents a novel procedure based on first-order reliability method (FORM) for structural reliability analysis with hybrid variables, that is, random and interval variables. This method can significantly improve the computational efficiency for the abovementioned hybrid reliability analysis (HRA), while generally providing sufficient precision. In the proposed procedure, the hybrid problem is reduced to standard reliability problem with the polar coordinates, where an n-dimensional limit-state function is defined only in terms of two random variables. Firstly, the linear Taylor series is used to approximate the limit-state function around the design point. Subsequently, with the approximation of the n-dimensional limit-state function, the new bidimensional limit state is established by the polar coordinate transformation. And the probability density functions (PDFs) of the two variables can be obtained by the PDFs of random variables and bounds of interval variables. Then, the interval of failure probability is efficiently calculated by the integral method. At last, one simple problem with explicit expressions and one engineering application of spacecraft docking lock are employed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methods.

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