Analysis of the Partial Safety Factor Method Using Probabilistic Techniques

Author(s):  
B. A. Lindley ◽  
P. M. James

Partial Safety Factors (PSFs) are scaling factors which are used to modify the input parameters to a deterministic fracture mechanics assessment in order to consider the effects of variability or uncertainty in the values of the input parameters. BS7910 and SINTAP have adopted the technique, both of which use the First Order Reliability Method (FORM) to derive values for PSFs. The PSFs are tabulated, varying with the target probability of failure, p(F), and the Coefficient of Variance (COV) of the variable. An accurate assessment of p(F) requires a probabilistic method with enough simulations. This has previously been found to be time consuming, due to the large number of simulations required. The PSF method has been seen as a quick way of calculating an approximate, conservative value of p(F). This paper contains a review of the PSF method, conducted using an efficient probabilistic method called the Hybrid probabilistic method. The Hybrid probabilistic method is used to find p(F) at a large number of assessment points, for a range of different PSFs. These p(F) values are compared to those obtained using the PSF method. It is found that the PSF method was usually, and often extremely, conservative. However there are also cases where the PSF method was non-conservative. This result is verified by a hand calculation. Modifications to the PSF method are suggested, including the establishment of a minimum PSF on each variable to reduce non-conservatisms. In light of the existence of efficient probabilistic techniques, the non-conservatisms that have been found in the PSF method, coupled with the impracticality of completely removing these non-conservatisms, it is recommended that a full probabilistic assessment should generally be performed.

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
pp. 00096
Author(s):  
Arkadiusz Szot

The article concerns aspects of safety in the process of designing continuous polymer liners used to strengthen and seal sewers and drains. The issues of safety coefficients, the variability of basic loadbearing parameters of liners and the problem of sensitivity of analytical solutions describing load-bearing capacity are discussed. The currently used magnitude of safety factors has been verified. The results of an examination on the safety index of liners for strengthening sewers has been presented in the paper. The necessity for the verification of current concepts of liner safety normalisation was herein addressed. A postulation to abandon the analogy of liners for newly constructed pipes was formulated. Calculations using the Hasofer-Lind safety index (First Order Reliability Method) were performed in some cases. A verification and evaluation of the global safety factor for sewer liners were herein carried out.


Author(s):  
Takuyo Kaida ◽  
Shinsuke Sakai

Reliability analysis considering data uncertainties can be used to make a rational decision as to whether to run or repair a pressure equipment that contains a flaw. Especially, partial safety factors (PSF) method is one of the most useful reliability analysis procedure and considered in a Level 3 assessment of a crack-like flaw in API 579-1/ASME FFS-1:2016. High Pressure Institute of Japan (HPI) formed a committee to develop a HPI FFS standard including PSF method. To apply the PSF method effectively, the safety factors for each dominant variable should be prepared before the assessment. In this paper, PSF for metal loss assessment of typical pressure vessels are derived based on first order reliability method (FORM). First, a limit state function and stochastic properties of random variables are defined. The properties of a typical pressure vessel are based on actual data of towers in petroleum and petrochemical plants. Second, probability of failure in several cases are studied by Hasofer-Lind method. Finally, PSF’s in each target probability of failure are proposed. HPI published a new technical report, HPIS Z 109 TR:2016, that provide metal loss assessment procedures based on FORM and the proposed PSF’s described in this paper.


Author(s):  
Zhenzhong Chen ◽  
Zihao Wu ◽  
Xiaoke Li ◽  
Ge Chen ◽  
Guangfeng Chen ◽  
...  

The first-order reliability method is widely used for structural reliability analysis; however, its accuracy would become worse for nonlinear problems. This paper proposes the accuracy analysis method of the first-order reliability method, which considers the worst cases when using the first-order reliability method and gives the possible value range of the probability of safety. The accuracy analysis method can evaluate the reliability level of the first-order reliability method when the failure surfaces are nonlinear. The calculation formula for the possible value range of the probability of safety is proposed, and its trend as the dimensions and reliability rise is also discussed in this paper. A numerical example and a honeycomb crashworthiness design are presented to validate the accuracy of the first-order reliability method, and the results show that they are located within the possible value range proposed in this paper.


2020 ◽  
Vol 57 (5) ◽  
pp. 742-753
Author(s):  
Ignatius Tommy Pratama ◽  
Chang-Yu Ou ◽  
Jianye Ching

This study calibrated the required factors of safety of five analysis methods for sand boiling using reliability theory. The factors of safety computed by the five analysis methods were compared with the results of a series of sand boiling model tests. The comparison shows that rigorous methods (Terzaghi’s and Harza’s methods) were more accurate in predicting the factors of safety compared to the simplified methods (Harr’s, simplified Terzaghi’s, and simplified Harza’s methods). The statistics of the model factor for each method, defined as the actual factor of safety divided by the computed one, was calibrated by the model test results. These statistics were then used to establish the relationship between the target probability of failure and the required factor of safety by reliability theory. Verification using a full-scale sand boiling case history shows that the required factor of safety calibrated by the reliability theory was more reasonable than the required factors of safety in references and design codes.


2006 ◽  
Vol 110 ◽  
pp. 221-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ouk Sub Lee ◽  
Dong Hyeok Kim ◽  
Seon Soon Choi

The reliability estimation of buried pipeline with corrosion defects is presented. The reliability of corroded pipeline has been estimated by using a theory of probability of failure. And the reliability has been analyzed in accordance with a target safety level. The probability of failure is calculated using the FORM (first order reliability method). The changes in probability of failure corresponding to three corrosion models and eight failure pressure models are systematically investigated in detail. It is highly suggested that the plant designer should select appropriate operating conditions and design parameters and analyze the reliability of buried pipeline with corrosion defects according to the probability of failure and a required target safety level. The normalized margin is defined and estimated accordingly. Furthermore, the normalized margin is used to predict the failure probability using the fitting lines between failure probability and normalized margin.


Author(s):  
Curtis Armstrong ◽  
Christopher Chin ◽  
Irene Penesis ◽  
Yuriy Drobyshevski

A comparative study of two methods for the generation of the environmental contours is presented investigating the sensitivity of the predicted extreme vessel responses to the type of the contour lines. Two approaches for the generation of environmental contours of the significant wave height and peak period are compared: the Inverse First Order Reliability Method (IFORM) and Constant Probability Density (CPD) approach. Case studies include several global responses of a ship-shaped weather-vaning vessel and a semisubmersible platform. The case studies reveal that the differences between the IFORM and CPD contours are more pronounced in the range of long wave periods. Vessel responses which are less sensitive to long wave periods exhibit less difference (less than 1.0%) in their maximum values between the two types of contours. In contrast, responses which are sensitive to long wave periods show significantly larger differences of up to 7.0%. Uncertainties also exist in the predicted extreme responses where the environmental contour and the response isoline behave tangentially. Differences between the extreme responses produced by the two contours generally decrease with an increase in return period; however exceptions exist due to the tangential behaviour. It is advised that these sensitivities should be taken into consideration when the environmental contours are used in the design.


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