Reliability-Based Performance Indicators for Structural Members
Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 142, Issue 9
Abstract
The implementation of reliability methods for designing new structures and assessing the safety and evaluating the performance of existing structures and infrastructure systems has gained widespread acceptance. Consequently, reliability-based design specifications in the form of load and resistance factor design (LRFD) methods have dominated the development of current codes and standards. This paper reviews the reliability-based performance criteria used to calibrate design and evaluation codes and standards for assessing the strength, serviceability, and fatigue resistance of structural components. The review shows that large differences exist in the target reliability levels adopted for evaluating the strength of various types of structural members and materials. These differences result from many factors, including (1) intended structure design and service life; (2) expected member modes of failure (e.g., ductile or brittle); (3) importance of the individual member to overall system integrity (secondary member, column, or connection); (4) experiences with previous designs; (5) material and construction costs; (6) structure type and occupancy; and (7) risk tolerance of the engineering community and the public within a code’s jurisdiction. For other than seismic hazards, current specifications remain primarily focused on the evaluation of individual structural members and components, although recently proposed performance-based design (PBD) procedures apply varying target member reliability levels that depend on structure categories, modes of failure, and required levels of structural performance. The implementation of reliability-based durability criteria in design standards is still a subject of research owing to difficulties encountered in modeling material degradation mechanisms and their interactions and in the collection and mapping of long-term site-specific data on degrading agents. Because of large epistemic uncertainties, the evaluation of the fatigue safety of structural components in engineering practice still relies on conservative basic models of damage accumulation using curves or basic fracture mechanics crack growth models. Overall, reliability-calibrated structural standards are producing designs that offer a good balance between safety and cost. The future implementation of risk-based methods will further enhance the ability to meet structure-specific performance requirements set by owners and users.
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Acknowledgments
This paper was prepared by members and friends of SEI-ASCE Task Group 2 (TG2) on Reliability-Based Structural System Performance Indicators as part of the activities of the group. Task Group 2 is a Committee of the SEI-ASCE Technical Council on Life-Cycle Performance, Safety, Reliability and Risk of Structural Systems. The purpose of TG2 is to promote the study, research, and application of reliability-based system performance indicators including structural system reliability, robustness, and redundancy.
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Published In
Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 142 • Issue 9 • September 2016
Copyright
© 2016 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: May 19, 2014
Accepted: Feb 18, 2016
Published online: Jun 2, 2016
Published in print: Sep 1, 2016
Discussion open until: Nov 2, 2016
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