Optimal Engineering Design Method that Combines Safety Factors and Failure Probabilities: Application to Rubble-Mound Breakwaters
Publication: Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal, and Ocean Engineering
Volume 130, Issue 2
Abstract
This paper presents a new method for engineering design that allows controlling safety factors and failure probabilities with respect to different modes of failure. Since failure probabilities are very sensitive to tail assumptions, and safety factors can be insufficient, a double check for the safety of the engineering structure is done. The dual method uses an iterative process that consists of repeating a sequence of three steps: (1) an optimal (in the sense of optimizing an objective function) classical design, based on given safety factors, is done, (2) failure probabilities or bounds of all failure modes are calculated, and (3) safety factor bounds are adjusted. The three steps are repeated until convergence, i.e., until the safety factor lower bounds and the mode failure probability upper bounds are satisfied. In addition, a sensitivity analysis of the cost and reliability indices to the data parameters is done. The proposed method is illustrated by its application to the design of a rubble-mound breakwater.
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Published In
Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal, and Ocean Engineering
Volume 130 • Issue 2 • March 2004
Pages: 77 - 88
Copyright
Copyright © 2004 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jan 22, 2002
Accepted: Jul 7, 2003
Published online: Feb 19, 2004
Published in print: Mar 2004
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