scholarly journals Structural reliability-based assessment of Nigerian Anogeissus schimperi timber bridge beam in shear and bearing forces

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 1011-1020
Author(s):  
P. Abubakar ◽  
A. Iorkar ◽  
A.A. Adedeji ◽  
J.I. Aguwa ◽  
U.N. Wilson

This research investigates the reliability of Anogeissus schimperi timber specie grown in North Western Nigeria as a bridge beam in shear and bearing forces. Specimens for laboratory tests were prepared using the timber specie in accordance with BS 373 (1957). Tests were carried out to determine the physical and mechanical properties at 12% moisture content in line with BS 5268 (2002). Statistical analysis was carried out using strength properties obtained and the specie was classified to strength class D60, confirmed to be Hardwood. Anogeissus schimperi timber bridge beam was designed in accordance to BS5268 (2002), using deterministicapproach. While, reliability analysis to confirm the safety level of the timber bridge beam designed was carried out using constant failure rate model in accordance with Jimoh, (2018). Sensitivity analysis to ascertain the safety margin of a simply supported timber bridge beam subjected to Shear and bearing by varying the span, depth, width and live load was carried out. Results of reliability analysis showed that Anogeissus schimperi met the minimum reliability index of 0.5 under ultimate state of loading in Shear and bearing. Safety index was found to be directly proportional to the depth and width but inversely proportional to the span and live loadof the timber bridge beam during Sensitivity Analysis. The result confirmed that Anogeissus schimperi specie from north western Nigeria at 400mm depth, 150mm breadth and 5000mm span under ultimate limit state loading in Shear and bearing can be used as a reliable timber bridge beam material. Keywords: Bridge Beam, Nigerian Anogeissus schimperi Reliability, Structural Material, Timber, Ultimate Limit State.

Author(s):  
Torfinn Hørte ◽  
Gudfinnur Sigurdsson

Structural Reliability Analysis (SRA) is a useful tool in structural engineering. Uncertainty in input parameters and model uncertainties in the analysis predictions are explicitly modelled by random variables. With this methodology, the uncertainties involved are handled in a consistent and transparent way. Compared to a deterministic analysis, SRA provides improved insight in how the various uncertainties involved influence the results. The main results from SRA is the calculated probability of structural failure, but other useful results such as uncertainty importance factors and design points being the most likely combination of all variables at failure represent helpful information. The present paper illustrates some the features using SRA for two different types of application. The first application is the use of SRA as a tool for code calibration and the second shows the application of SRA to a problem where common practice is likely to be rather conservative and therefore leading to unacceptable results, but where the degree of conservatism is not known. Two examples are chosen to illustrate code calibration; i.e. hull girder ultimate limit state (ULS) for tankers and ULS for mooring design in the ULS for floating offshore vessels. Code calibration involves both SRA and design analysis following the code. It is shown how the design analysis can be modified in order to better reflect a chosen target reliability level across a selected set of test cases representative for what the code should cover. Fatigue of subsea wellhead systems is selected as an example of a special case when application of existing rules may lead to unsatisfactory results which are likely to be rather conservative. It is shown how results can be presented in terms of the accumulated probability of fatigue failure as a function of time. This may be a more suitable basis for decision making than a calculated fatigue life from a standard analysis. It is also illustrated how importance factors from the SRA can be used as guidance on how to prioritize effort in order to improve prediction of the fatigue damage. The present paper is not intended to be detailed in all input and analysis methodology, but draw the attention towards the possibilities and benefits of applying SRA in structural engineering, where the examples are used to illustrate this potential.


2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (8) ◽  
pp. 1684-1697
Author(s):  
Hawraa Qasim Jebur ◽  
Salah Rohaima Al-Zaidee

In recent years, more researches on structural reliability theory and methods have been carried out. In this study, a portal steel frame is considered. The reliability analysis for the frame is represented by the probability of failure, P_f, and the reliability index, β, that can be predicted based on the failure of the girders and columns. The probability of failure can be estimated dependent on the probability density function of two random variables, namely Capacity R, and Demand Q. The Monte Carlo simulation approach has been employed to consider the uncertainty the parameters of R, and Q. Matlab functions have been adopted to generate pseudo-random number for considered parameters. Although the Monte Carlo method is active and is widely used in reliability research, it has a disadvantage which represented by the requirement of large sample sizes to estimate the small probabilities of failure. This is leading to computational cost and time. Therefore, an Approximated Monte Carlo simulation method has been adopted for this issue. In this study, four performances have been considered include the serviceability deflection limit state, ultimate limit state for girder, ultimate limit state for the columns, and elastic stability. As the portal frame is a statically indeterminate structure, therefore bending moments, and axial forces cannot be determined based on static alone. A finite element parametric model has been prepared using Abaqus to deal with this aspect. The statistical analysis for the results samples show that all response data have lognormal distribution except of elastic critical buckling load which has a normal distribution.


Author(s):  
Federico Barranco Cicilia ◽  
Edison Castro Prates de Lima ◽  
Lui´s Volnei Sudati Sagrilo

This paper presents a Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) criterion applied to the design of Tension Leg Platform (TLP) tendons in their intact condition. The design criterion considers the Ultimate Limit State (ULS) of any tendon section along its whole length taking into account both dynamic interactions of load effects and the statistics of its associated extreme response. The partial safety factors are calibrated through a long-term reliability-based methodology for the storm environmental conditions, like hurricanes and winter storms, in deep waters of the Campeche Bay, Mexico. In the reliability analysis, the uncertainties in the definition of load effects and analytic limit state models for calculation of tendon strength and randomness of material properties are included. The results show that the partial safety factors reflect both uncertainty content and the importance of the random variables in structural reliability analysis. When tendons are designed according to the developed LRFD criterion, a less scattered variation of reliability indexes is obtained for different tendon sections across a single or various TLP designs.


Author(s):  
J.I. Aguwa ◽  
S. Sadiku

This paper provides the results of structural reliability analysis carried out on the data of Nigerian grown Iroko tree (Chlorophora excelsa), to ascertain its structural performance as timber bridge beams. Five pieces of 50mm x 75mm x 3600mm of Nigerian grown Iroko hardwood were bought, seasoned naturally and 200 pieces of samples were prepared for determination of their strength properties, (which include bending strength parallel to grain, tensile strength parallel to grain, compressive strength parallel to grain, compressive strength perpendicular to grain and shear strength parallel to grain) at a moisture content of 18%, in accordance with the British Standard BS 373 of 1957. Statistical analysis was carried out using the strength properties for determination of mean, standard deviation, coefficient of variations, confidence limits and Chi-Square goodness of fits. Structural analysis and design of a timber bridge beam using the determined data from the Nigerian grown Iroko timber, in accordance with BS 5268 were carried out under the Ultimate Limit State of loading (ULSL). Reliability analysis was carried out to ascertain its level of safety using First-Order Reliability Method (FORM). Sensitivity analysis was also carried out by varying the depth of beam, imposed live load, breadth of the beam, unit weight of the Iroko timber, span of the beam as well as the end bearing length. The result revealed that the Nigerian grown Iroko timber is a satisfactory structural material for timber bridge beams at depth of 400mm, breadth of 150mm and span of 5000mm under the ULSL. The probabilities of failure of the Nigerian grown Iroko timber bridge beam in bending, shear, compression and deflection are respectively, under the specified conditions of loading.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 4788 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zdeněk Kala

Although more and more reliability-oriented sensitivity analysis (ROSA) techniques are now available, review and comparison articles of ROSA are absent. In civil engineering, many of the latest indices have never been used to analyse structural reliability for very small failure probability. This article aims to analyse and compare different sensitivity analysis (SA) techniques and discusses their strengths and weaknesses. For this purpose, eight selected sensitivity indices are first described and then applied in two different test cases. Four ROSA type indices are directly oriented on the failure probability or reliability index beta, and four other indices (of a different type) are oriented on the output of the limit state function. The case study and results correspond to cases under common engineering assumptions, where only two independent input variables with Gaussian distribution of the load action and the resistance are applied in the ultimate limit state. The last section of the article is dedicated to the analysis of the different results. Large differences between first-order sensitivity indices and very strong interaction effects obtained from ROSA are observed for very low values of failure probability. The obtained numerical results show that ROSA methods lack a common platform that clearly interprets the relationship of indices to their information value. This paper can help orientate in the selection of which sensitivity measure to use.


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