Most-Probable-Point-Locus Reliability Method in Standard Normal Space

Author(s):  
M. R. Khalessi ◽  
Y.-T. Wu ◽  
T. Y. Torng

Abstract This paper describes a new structural reliability analysis iteration procedure based on the concept of most probable point locus (MPPL). Using a new quadratic search algorithm, the proposed procedure examines the global behavior of the limit-state function, g, along the MPPL in the standard normal space in search of the most probable point (MPP) on the g = o surface, and identifies unusual conditions such as multiple MPPs. During the iteration procedure, the generated information is updated after each sensitivity analysis. This action helps the analyst to minimize the number of computer runs and determine the next step. By adopting two efficient convergence criteria, the proposed procedure is demonstrated to be significantly more efficient than the commonly used reliability analysis procedures, and is suitable to be integrated with existing general-purpose finite element computer programs for nondeterministic structural analysis.

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianguo Zhang ◽  
Jiwei Qiu ◽  
Pidong Wang

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.


2015 ◽  
Vol 137 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zissimos P. Mourelatos ◽  
Monica Majcher ◽  
Vijitashwa Pandey ◽  
Igor Baseski

A new reliability analysis method is proposed for time-dependent problems with explicit in time limit-state functions of input random variables and input random processes using the total probability theorem and the concept of composite limit state. The input random processes are assumed Gaussian. They are expressed in terms of standard normal variables using a spectral decomposition method. The total probability theorem is employed to calculate the time-dependent probability of failure using time-dependent conditional probabilities which are computed accurately and efficiently in the standard normal space using the first-order reliability method (FORM) and a composite limit state of linear instantaneous limit states. If the dimensionality of the total probability theorem integral is small, we can easily calculate it using Gauss quadrature numerical integration. Otherwise, simple Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) or adaptive importance sampling are used based on a Kriging metamodel of the conditional probabilities. An example from the literature on the design of a hydrokinetic turbine blade under time-dependent river flow load demonstrates all developments.


2013 ◽  
Vol 477-478 ◽  
pp. 146-149
Author(s):  
Wei Dong Chen ◽  
Ping Jia ◽  
Xian De Wu ◽  
Yan Chun Yu ◽  
Feng Chao Zhang ◽  
...  

The limit state function (LSF) is implicit to many structure reliability analysis problems, which may make some classical reliability method complicated to be applied. One of the surrogate methods-support vector classification (SVC) was applied in the structural reliability analysis herein which has not been applied to structure reliability analysis until recent years. Then the advanced first order second moment method (AFOSM) can be applied. The expressions of structure system reliability sensitivity to basic variable were deduced. The flow of how to call the SVC program was presented. An example was shown to compare the SVC based method with some other classical reliability analysis methods. The results are accurately accepted and the advantages of SVC are analyzed.


2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 218-253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asma Chakri ◽  
Rabia Khelif ◽  
Mohamed Benouaret

Purpose – The first order reliability method requires optimization algorithms to find the minimum distance from the origin to the limit state surface in the normal space. The purpose of this paper is to develop an improved version of the new metaheuristic algorithm inspired from echolocation behaviour of bats, namely, the bat algorithm (BA) dedicated to perform structural reliability analysis. Design/methodology/approach – Modifications have been embedded to the standard BA to enhance its efficiency, robustness and reliability. In addition, a new adaptive penalty equation dedicated to solve the problem of the determination of the reliability index and a proposition on the limit state formulation are presented. Findings – The comparisons between the improved bat algorithm (iBA) presented in this paper and other standard algorithms on benchmark functions show that the iBA is highly efficient, and the application to structural reliability problems such as the reliability analysis of overhead crane girder proves that results obtained with iBA are highly reliable. Originality/value – A new iBA and an adaptive penalty equation for handling equality constraint are developed to determine the reliability index. In addition, the low computing time and the ease implementation of this method present great advantages from the engineering viewpoint.


Mathematics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 209
Author(s):  
Bolin Liu ◽  
Liyang Xie

The Kriging-based reliability method with a sequential design of experiments (DoE) has been developed in recent years for implicit limit state functions. Such methods include the efficient global reliability analysis, the active learning reliability method combining Kriging and MCS Simulations. In this research, a novel local approximation method based on the most probable failure point (MPFP) is proposed to improve such methods. In this method, the MPFP calculated in the last iteration is the center of the next sampling region. The size of the local region depends on the reliability index obtained by the First Order Reliability Method (FORM) and the deviation distance of the standard deviation. The proposed algorithm, which approximates the limit state function accurately near MPFP rather than in the whole design space, can avoid selecting samples in regions that have negligible effects on the reliability analysis results. In addition, a multi-point enrichment technique is also introduced to select multiple sample points in each iteration. After the high-quality approximation of limit state function is obtained, the failure probability is calculated by the Monte Carlo method. Four numerical examples are used to validate the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method. Results show that the proposed method is very effective for an accurate evaluation of the failure probability.


Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 1820
Author(s):  
Mohamed El Amine Ben Seghier ◽  
Behrooz Keshtegar ◽  
Hussam Mahmoud

Reinforced concrete (RC) beams are basic elements used in the construction of various structures and infrastructural systems. When exposed to harsh environmental conditions, the integrity of RC beams could be compromised as a result of various deterioration mechanisms. One of the most common deterioration mechanisms is the formation of different types of corrosion in the steel reinforcements of the beams, which could impact the overall reliability of the beam. Existing classical reliability analysis methods have shown unstable results when used for the assessment of highly nonlinear problems, such as corroded RC beams. To that end, the main purpose of this paper is to explore the use of a structural reliability method for the multi-state assessment of corroded RC beams. To do so, an improved reliability method, namely the three-term conjugate map (TCM) based on the first order reliability method (FORM), is used. The application of the TCM method to identify the multi-state failure of RC beams is validated against various well-known structural reliability-based FORM formulations. The limit state function (LSF) for corroded RC beams is formulated in accordance with two corrosion types, namely uniform and pitting corrosion, and with consideration of brittle fracture due to the pit-to-crack transition probability. The time-dependent reliability analyses conducted in this study are also used to assess the influence of various parameters on the resulting failure probability of the corroded beams. The results show that the nominal bar diameter, corrosion initiation rate, and the external loads have an important influence on the safety of these structures. In addition, the proposed method is shown to outperform other reliability-based FORM formulations in predicting the level of reliability in RC beams.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia J. Sarmiento Nova ◽  
Jaime Gonzalez-Libreros ◽  
Gabriel Sas ◽  
Rafael A. Sanabria Díaz ◽  
Maria C. A. Texeira da Silva ◽  
...  

<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>


Author(s):  
Umberto Alibrandi ◽  
C. G. Koh

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.


Author(s):  
Zhe Zhang ◽  
Chao Jiang ◽  
G. Gary Wang ◽  
Xu Han

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.


2011 ◽  
Vol 147 ◽  
pp. 197-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiang Zhou ◽  
Jing Cao ◽  
Yu He ◽  
Jie Song

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.


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