TECHNICAL PAPERS
Mar 1, 1983

Basic Analysis of Structural Safety

Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 109, Issue 3

Abstract

The present study reviews some of the more significant recent developments in the area of structural reliability analysis, proposes new interpretations for and emphasis in some of these crucial theoretical developments, and introduces additional useful quantities. To be specific, the first‐order second‐moment methods are reviewed. It is then shown that the Lagrange multiplier formulation (and thus any algorithm associated with it) can be used to evaluate the safety index and the location of the design point. Monte Carlo techniques are recommended for use in estimating limit state probabilities as a practical alternative to other methods. The use of the Stokes and Gauss divergence theorem in two‐ and three‐dimensional integral expressions of a limit state probability is suggested in order to reduce the dimensionality of the integrations by one. Finally, it is recommended that the point of maximum likelihood be used as an alternative to the design point based on the advanced firstorder second‐moment method.

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Go to Journal of Structural Engineering
Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 109Issue 3March 1983
Pages: 721 - 740

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Published online: Mar 1, 1983
Published in print: Mar 1983

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Masanobu Shinozuka, M. ASCE
Renwick Prof. of Civ. Engrg., 610 Mudd Building, Columbia Univ., New York, N.Y. 10027

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