Reliability Evaluation of Structural Safety Factor Using a Global Resistance Approach
<p>This paper presents a discussion on different ways of assessing the safety of concrete structures applying Reliability Analyses. The usual design approach based on the Ultimate Limit States (ULS) is confronted with the Global Resistance Format, as defined in <i>fi</i>b Model Code 2010. The Global Format considers the several uncertainties present in the structural behaviour through a pre-defined limit state in which one or more loading variables are increased by a <i>λ </i>factor, until a collapse situation is attained. In this evaluation, the variables related to the actions and to the resistances are taken with their average value. The obtained values for the <i>λ </i>factor shall be compatible, in the safety point-of- view, with the β reliability factors corresponding to the required safety levels. A conventional building is analyzed, and the obtained reliability factors corresponding to the two approaches are presented. It is shown that the application of the Global Resistance Format can lead to more economical structures.</p>