Utility and Information Analysis for Optimum Inspection of Fatigue-Sensitive Structures
Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 145, Issue 2
Abstract
Fatigue cracking is considered the most prevalent damage for welded steel structures like bridges and ships. Inspections are normally planned in the service life to assess fatigue damages in order to ensure structural safety and serviceability. Whether or not cracks are found, the inspection results provide value for fatigue damage assessment and risk mitigation. This paper aims to emphasize the value of inspection based on the information gained for fatigue crack prognosis. The probabilistic inspection results are used to update the prior distribution to a posterior distribution of fatigue damage. The change from prior to posterior distribution is quantified as the information gained from inspection. The time-variant inspection information metrics are further analyzed with utility theory to consider the attitude and preference of the decision maker toward the inspection outcome at a certain point in time. This paper presents an integrated decision-making framework for inspection planning, addressing the information perspective of inspection choice and schedule. The recommended optimum inspection plan is expected to provide the highest utility to the decision maker in the life-cycle management of aging structures. The proposed framework is applied to a fatigue-critical detail of a ship structure.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
Support from the US Office of Naval Research (contracts N00014-08-1-0188, N00014-12-1-0023, and N00014-16-1-2299, Structural Reliability Program, Director Dr. Paul E. Hess III, Office of Naval Research, Code 331) and from the National Science Foundation (award CMMI-1537926) are gratefully acknowledged. The opinions and conclusions presented in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the sponsoring organizations.
References
Ang, A. H., and W. H. Tang. 2007. Probability concepts in engineering planning: Emphasis on applications to civil and environmental engineering. New York: Wiley.
Chung, H.-Y., L. Manuel, and K. H. Frank. 2006. “Optimal inspection scheduling of steel bridges using nondestructive testing techniques.” J. Bridge Eng. 11 (3): 305–319. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1084-0702(2006)11:3(305).
Crawshaw, J., and J. Chambers. 1984. A concise course in A-level statistics. Cheltenham, UK: Stanley Thornes.
Cremona, C. 1996. “Reliability updating of welded joints damaged by fatigue.” Int. J. Fatigue 18 (8): 567–575. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0142-1123(96)00011-4.
das Chagas Moura, M., I. D. Lins, E. L. Droguett, R. F. Soares, and R. Pascual. 2015. “A multi-objective genetic algorithm for determining efficient risk-based inspection programs.” Reliab. Eng. Syst. Saf. 133: 253–265. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ress.2014.09.018.
Dong, Y., and D. M. Frangopol. 2016. “Incorporation of risk and updating in inspection of fatigue-sensitive details of ship structures.” Int. J. Fatigue 82: 676–688. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijfatigue.2015.09.026.
Frangopol, D. M. 1985. “Structural optimization using reliability concepts.” J. Struct. Eng. 111 (11): 2288–2301. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9445(1985)111:11(2288).
Frangopol, D. M. 2011. “Life-cycle performance, management, and optimisation of structural systems under uncertainty: Accomplishments and challenges.” Struct. Infrastruct. Eng. 7 (6): 389–413. https://doi.org/10.1080/15732471003594427.
Hastings, W. K. 1970. “Monte Carlo sampling methods using Markov chains and their applications.” Biometrika 57 (1): 97–109. https://doi.org/10.1093/biomet/57.1.97.
Irwin, G. R. 1958. The crack-extension-force for a crack at a free surface boundary. Washington, DC: US Naval Research Laboratory.
Kim, S., and D. M. Frangopol. 2011. “Optimum inspection planning for minimizing fatigue damage detection delay of ship hull structures.” Int. J. Fatigue 33 (3): 448–459. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijfatigue.2010.09.018.
Kim, S., and D. M. Frangopol. 2017. “Efficient multi-objective of probabilistic service life management.” Struct. Infrastruct. Eng. 13 (1): 147–159. https://doi.org/10.1080/15732479.2016.1198405.
Kim, S., and D. M. Frangopol. 2018. “Decision making for probabilistic fatigue inspection planning based on multi-objective optimization.” Int. J. Fatigue 111: 356–368. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijfatigure.2018.01.027.
Kim, S., D. M. Frangopol, and M. Soliman. 2013. “Generalized probabilistic framework for optimum inspection and maintenance planning.” J. Struct. Eng. 139 (3): 435–447. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ST.1943-541X.0000676.
Klir, G. J. 2005. Uncertainty and information: Foundations of generalized information theory. New York: Wiley.
Konakli, K., B. Sudret, and M. H. Faber. 2016. “Numerical investigations into the value of information in lifecycle analysis of structural systems.” ASCE-ASME J. Risk Uncertainty Eng. Syst. Part A: Civ. Eng. 2 (3): B4015007. https://doi.org/10.1061/AJRUA6.0000850.
Kwon, K., and D. M. Frangopol. 2011. “Bridge fatigue assessment and management using reliability-based crack growth and probability of detection models.” Probab. Eng. Mech. 26 (3): 471–480. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.probengmech.2011.02.001.
Kwon, K., D. M. Frangopol, and S. Kim. 2013. “Fatigue performance assessment and service life prediction of high-speed ship structures based on probabilistic lifetime sea loads.” Struct. Infrastruct. Eng. 9 (2): 102–115. https://doi.org/10.1080/15732479.2010.524984.
Lassen, T., and N. Recho. 2015. “Risk based inspection planning for fatigue damage in offshore steel structures.” In Proc., 34th Int. Conf. on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering, V003T02A076–V003T02A076. New York: ASME.
Lotsberg, I., G. Sigurdsson, A. Fjeldstad, and T. Moan. 2016. “Probabilistic methods for planning of inspection for fatigue cracks in offshore structures.” Mar. Struct. 46: 167–192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marstruc.2016.02.002.
Ma, K.-T., I. Orisamolu, and R. G. Bea. 1999. Optimal strategies for inspection of ships for fatigue and corrosion damage. Washington, DC: Ship Structure Committee.
Madsen, H., and J. Sorensen. 1990. “Probability-based optimization of fatigue design, inspection and maintenance.” In Proc., 4th Int. Symp. on Integrity of Offshore Structures, 421–432. London: Elsevier.
Madsen, H. O., S. Krenk, and N. C. Lind. 1985. Methods of structural safety. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Malings, C., and M. Pozzi. 2016. “Conditional entropy and value of information metrics for optimal sensing in infrastructure systems.” Struct. Saf. 60: 77–90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.strusafe.2015.10.003.
Maljaars, J., and A. Vrouwenvelder. 2014. “Probabilistic fatigue life updating accounting for inspections of multiple critical locations.” Int. J. Fatigue 68: 24–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijfatigue.2014.06.011.
Metropolis, N., A. W. Rosenbluth, M. N. Rosenbluth, A. H. Teller, and E. Teller. 1953. “Equation of state calculations by fast computing machines.” J. Chem. Phys. 21 (6): 1087–1092. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1699114.
Moan, T. 2005. “Reliability-based management of inspection, maintenance and repair of offshore structures.” Struct. Infrastruct. Eng. 1 (1): 33–62. https://doi.org/10.1080/15732470412331289314.
Moan, T., and R. Song. 2000. “Implications of inspection updating on system fatigue reliability of offshore structures.” ASME Trans. J. Offshore Mech. Arct. Eng. 122 (3): 173–180. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1286601.
Mori, Y., and B. R. Ellingwood. 1994. “Maintaining reliability of concrete structures. I: Role of inspection/repair.” J. Struct. Eng. 120 (3): 824–845. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9445(1994)120:3(824).
Onoufriou, T., and D. M. Frangopol. 2002. “Reliability-based inspection optimization of complex structures: A brief retrospective.” Comput. Struct. 80 (12): 1133–1144. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0045-7949(02)00071-8.
Orcesi, A. D., and D. M. Frangopol. 2011. “Use of lifetime functions in the optimization of nondestructive inspection strategies for bridges.” J. Struct. Eng. 137 (4): 531–539. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ST.1943-541X.0000304.
Paris, P. C., and F. Erdogan. 1963. “A critical analysis of crack propagation laws.” ASME J. Basic Eng. 85 (4): 528–533. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.3656900.
Patil, A., D. Huard, and C. J. Fonnesbeck. 2010. “PyMC: Bayesian stochastic modelling in Python.” J. Stat. Software 35 (4): 1. https://doi.org/10.18637/jss.v035.i04.
Perrin, F., B. Sudret, and M. Pendola. 2007. “Bayesian updating of mechanical models—Application in fracture mechanics.” In Proc., 18ème Congrès Français de Mécanique, 27–31. Courbevoie, France: AFM, Maison de la Mécanique.
Soares, C. G., and Y. Garbatov. 1996. “Fatigue reliability of the ship hull girder accounting for inspection and repair.” Reliab. Eng. Syst. Saf. 51 (3): 341–351. https://doi.org/10.1016/0951-8320(95)00123-9.
Soares, C. G., and Y. Garbatov. 1999. “Reliability based fatigue design of maintained welded joints in the side shell of tankers.” Eur. Struct. Integr. Soc. 23: 13–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1566-1369(99)80026-0.
Soliman, M., and D. M. Frangopol. 2014. “Life-cycle management of fatigue-sensitive structures integrating inspection information.” J. Infrastruct. Syst. 20 (2): 04014001. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)IS.1943-555X.0000169.
Soliman, M., D. M. Frangopol, and S. Kim. 2013. “Probabilistic optimum inspection planning of steel bridges with multiple fatigue sensitive details.” Eng. Struct. 49: 996–1006. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2012.12.044.
Soliman, M., D. M. Frangopol, and A. Mondoro. 2016. “A probabilistic approach for optimizing inspection, monitoring, and maintenance actions against fatigue of critical ship details.” Struct. Saf. 60: 91–101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.strusafe.2015.12.004.
Straub, D. 2014. “Value of information analysis with structural reliability methods.” Struct. Saf. 49: 75–85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.strusafe.2013.08.006.
Straub, D., and M. H. Faber. 2005. “Risk based inspection planning for structural systems.” Struct. Saf. 27 (4): 335–355. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.strusafe.2005.04.001.
Tsutsui, S., and A. Ghosh. 1997. “Genetic algorithms with a robust solution searching scheme.” IEEE Trans. Evol. Comput. 1 (3): 201–208. https://doi.org/10.1109/4235.661550.
Von Neumann, J., and O. Morgenstern. 1953. Theory of games and economic behavior. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
Wu, W., and C. Ni. 2007. “Statistical aspects of some fatigue crack growth data.” Eng. Fract. Mech. 74 (18): 2952–2963. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engfracmech.2006.08.019.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 145 • Issue 2 • February 2019
Copyright
©2018 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jun 21, 2017
Accepted: Aug 9, 2018
Published online: Dec 4, 2018
Published in print: Feb 1, 2019
Discussion open until: May 4, 2019
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.