An algorithm for finding a sequence of design points in reliability analysis. (January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Ziqi; Broccardo, Marco; Der Kiureghian, Armen
• Is Part Of: Structural safety. Volume 58(2016)
• Page Start: 52
• Page End: 59
• Publication Date: 2016-01
• Subjects: Design point -- Nonlinear analysis -- Optimization algorithm -- Quasi-Newton -- Reliability analysis; Structural stability -- Periodicals; Safety factor in engineering -- Periodicals; Reliability (Engineering) -- Periodicals; Constructions -- Stabilité -- Périodiques; Coefficient de sécurité en ingénierie -- Périodiques; Fiabilité -- Périodiques; 620.86
• DOI: 10.1016/j.strusafe.2015.09.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0167-4730

Abstract

Highlights: An algorithm for finding a sequence of design points is developed. The algorithm finds the design point through inverse reliability analysis. The algorithm uses the Broyden's good method to solve a set of nonlinear equations. The algorithm is highly efficient compared to i-HLRF algorithm. Abstract: In the analysis of structural reliability, often a sequence of design points associated with a set of thresholds are sought in order to determine the tail distribution of a response quantity. In this paper, after a brief review of methods for determining the design point, an inverse reliability method named the λ -method is introduced for efficiently determining the sequence of design points. The λ -method uses Broyden's "good" method to solve a set of nonlinear simultaneous equations to find the design points for the values of an implicitly defined threshold that is associated with parameter λ . In a special parameter setting, the λ parameter equals the reliability index, thus allowing convenient implementation of the method. Three numerical examples illustrate the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method.