Reliability Analysis of Modern Geotechnical Codes for the Limit State Design of Sheet Pile Structures Considering Parameter Uncertainties
Publication: International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 22, Issue 3
Abstract
In this paper, the limit-state and direct probability-based design responses of modern geotechnical codes are characterized according to parametric analyses of geotechnical uncertainty. The reliability levels (β) of the limit-state design (LSD) responses are compared with the prescribed minimum target reliability indices (βT,min) of the codes for a case study that involves the design of an embedded sheet pile structure subjected to water pressure, seepage pressure, and no retained earth pressure. The effect of soil uncertainty, represented by the variabilities of the effective soil friction and the soil unit weight, on the direct probabilistic-based design responses, is analyzed at small- and high-reliability levels (0 ≤ β ≤ 5). The results show that the reliability levels of the LSD responses of the North American and European codes do not fulfill the prescribed βT,min for the overturning and structural failure limit-states. In contrast, for the hydraulic heave limit-state, the prescribed βT,min of the North American codes are widely exceeded. The effects of the uncertainties of the effective soil friction COVϕ′ and the soil unit weight COVγ on the normalized embedment depth (D/H) and the normalized maximum structural bending moment (Mmax/γH3) are also explored relative to the principles of the North American and European codes.
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Data Availability Statement
All data, models, and code generated or used during the study appear in the published article.
Acknowledgments
The author thank the editor and the three anonymous reviewers who contributed to improving this work. This work was partially supported by the Student–Instructor Fellowship (Dean’s Resolution No. 0057 of 2021) of the Faculty of Engineering, University of Antioquia. The financial support is gratefully acknowledged.
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International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 22 • Issue 3 • March 2022
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© 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Received: Mar 1, 2021
Accepted: Oct 11, 2021
Published online: Dec 17, 2021
Published in print: Mar 1, 2022
Discussion open until: May 17, 2022
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