Level III Reliability methods feasible for complex structures

Level III Reliability methods feasible for complex structures

Waarts, P.H.
de Boer, A.

2001

The paper describes the comparison between three types of reliability methods: code type level I used by a designer, full level I and a level III method. Two cases that are typical for civil engineering practise, a cable-stayed subjected to traffic load and the installation of a soil retaining sheet pile wall, have been analysed with the three reliability methods and conclusions are drawn with respect to accuracy and computational effort. As expected the level III method uses more computational effort than a code type level I method. It is however shown that in practise, the effort for the level III reliability method is only slightly more than used in a full level I method. For new kind of structures and/or materials, where there is only little experience, a level III methods is then to be preferred above the level I method because it gives direct insight into the structural reliability and decisive parameters. Besides the structures will either be safer or more economically build in comparison to structures designed using the level I safety factors

Reliability methods
Models
Safety factors

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:b123938b-caa1-48ba-a39b-ae48bb5d40db

329783

Proceedings IABSE Conference, Malta, March, 1-6

conference paper