Peak Factors for Non-Gaussian Load Effects Revisited
Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 137, Issue 12
Abstract
The estimation of the extreme of non-Gaussian load effects for design applications has often been treated tacitly by invoking a conventional peak factor on the basis of Gaussian processes. This assumption breaks down when the loading process exhibits non-Gaussianity, in which a conventional peak factor yields relatively nonconservative estimates because of failure to include long tail regions inherent to non-Gaussian processes. To realistically capture the salient characteristics of non-Gaussian load effects and incorporate these in the estimates of their extremes, this study examines the peak factor for non-Gaussian processes, which can be used for estimating the expected value of the positive and negative extremes of non-Gaussian load effects. The efficacy of previously introduced analytical expressions for the peak factor of non-Gaussian processes on the basis of a moment-based Hermite model is evaluated and the variance of the estimates in standard deviation is derived. In addition, some improvements to the estimation of the peak factor and its standard deviation are discussed. Examples, including immediate applications to other areas, illustrate the effectiveness of this model-based peak factor approach.
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Acknowledgments
The writers are grateful for the financial support, in part, provided by the NSF Grant No. NSFCMMI 06-01143 and the Global Center of Excellence at Tokyo Polytechnic University, Tokyo, funded by UNSPECIFIEDMEXT, Japan.
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Published In
Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 137 • Issue 12 • December 2011
Pages: 1611 - 1619
Copyright
© 2011 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: May 11, 2010
Accepted: Apr 18, 2011
Published online: Apr 20, 2011
Published in print: Dec 1, 2011
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