• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.1099-1120
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• 2014

In this paper, reliability-based design optimization (RBDO) of structures is addressed. For this purpose, the global search and optimization capabilities of genetic algorithm (GA) are combined with the efficiency and reasonable accuracy of an advanced moment-based finite element reliability method. For performing RBDO, three variants of GA including a real-coded, a binary-coded and an improved binary-coded GA are developed. In these methods, GA performs (finite element) reliability analyses to evaluate reliability constraints. For truss structures which include finite element modeling, reliability constraints are evaluated using finite element reliability analysis. Response sensitivity required for finite element reliability analysis is obtained by direct differentiation method (DDM) rather than finite difference method (FDM). The proposed methods are examined within four standard test examples and real-world design problems. The results illustrate the superiority and efficiency of the improved binary-coded GA. Results also illustrate that DDM significantly reduces the computational cost and improves the efficiency of the optimization procedure.

• Magazine of the Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.32 no.E
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• pp.59-66
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• 1990

Abstract The formulation of the probabilistic finite element method was briefly reviewed. The method was implemented into a computer program for frame analysis which has the same analogy as finite element analysis. Another program for Monte Carlo simulation of finite element analysis was written. Two sample structures were assumed and analized. The characteristics of the second moment statistics obtained by the probabilistic finite element method was examined through numerical studies. The applicability and limitation of the method were also evaluated in comparison with the data generated by Monte Carlo simulation.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 1995

This study presents a methodology for the system reliability analysis of cracked structures with random material properties, which are modeled as random fields, and crack geometry under random static loads. The finite element method provides the computational framework to obtain the stress intensity solutions, and the first-order reliability method provides the basis for modeling and analysis of uncertainties. The ultimate structural system reliability is effectively evaluated by the stable configuration approach. Numerical examples are given for the case of random fracture toughness and load.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.86 no.3
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• pp.349-359
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• 2023

This paper presents a technique for determining the optimal number of elements in stochastic finite element analysis based on reliability analysis. Using the change-of-variable perturbation stochastic finite element approach, the probability density function of the dynamic responses of stochastic structures is explicitly determined. This method combines the perturbation stochastic finite element method with the change-of-variable technique into a united model. To further examine the relationships between the random fields, discretization of the random field parameters, such as the variance function and the scale of fluctuation, is also performed. Accordingly, the reliability index is calculated based on the explicit probability density function of responses with Gaussian or non-Gaussian random fields in any number of elements corresponding to the random field discretization. The numerical examples illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method for a one-dimensional cantilever reinforced concrete column and a two-dimensional steel plate shear wall. The benefit of this method is that the probability density function of responses can be obtained explicitly without the use simulation techniques. Any type of random variable with any statistical distribution can be incorporated into the calculations, regardless of the restrictions imposed by the type of statistical distribution of random variables. Consequently, this method can be utilized as a suitable guideline for the efficient implementation of stochastic finite element analysis of structures, regardless of the statistical distribution of random variables.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.103-110
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• 2003

A hybrid structural reliability analysis method that integrates a commercial finite element program and a reliability analysis algorithm is proposed to estimate the safety of real structures in this paper. Since finite element method (FEM) is most commonly and widely used in the analysis and design practice of real structures, it appears to be necessary to use general FEM program in the structural reliability analysis. In this case, simple conventional reliability methods cannot be used because the limit state function can only be expressed in an algorithmic form. The response surface method(RSM)-based reliability algorithm with the first-order reliability method (FORM) found to be ideal in this respect and is used in this paper. The intention of use of RSM is to develop, albeit approximately, an explicit expression of the limit state function for real structures. The applicability of the proposed method to real structures is examined with help of the example in consideration of a concrete dam. Both the strength and serviceability limit states are considered in this example.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.187-190
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• 2001

Response surface method is applied to evaluate the reliability of laminated composite panels. Since the linear and nonlinear first-ply failure load are computed using deterministic finite element analysis, new probabilistic finite element analysis is not necessary. Tsai-Wu criterion is used to construct the limit state suface. Material properties, layer thickness and lamina strengths of laminated composite panel are treated as random design variables. feasibility and accuracy of current method is validated using Monte-Carlo method Which perform thousand times of finite element analysis directly.

• Computational Structural Engineering
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.97-108
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• 1992

This paper is an attempt to account for the uncertainty of the residual strength in the reliability analysis of structural systems. For this purpose the stochastic finite element method(SFEM) is linked to the system reliability analysis procedure. The stochastic finite element is known to be able to a more explicitly consider the effect of uncerainties of material and geometric variables on those of load effects in structural analysis procedure. The method has been applied to system as well as component reliability analysis of a plane structure. Comparison of the results by the present approach is made with the method in which the residual strength of failed component is treated as deterministic variable. Several case studies have been carried to show the effect of uncertainty in residual strength of a member after failure. Is has been conformed that reidual strength very much affect the system reliability level. It can be, hence, concluded that the uncertainties in the post-ultirnate behaviour may have to be taken into account in the system reliability analysis for a better a ssessment of the system reliability especially for a structure of which member behaviour is modelled as asemi-brittle model. And then the stochastic finite element method can efficiently evaluate the system reliability.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.537-549
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• 2001

The effect of partially restrained(PR) connections and the uncertainties in them on the reliability of steel frames subjected to seismic loading is addressed. A stochastic finite element method(SFEM) is proposed combining the concepts of the response surface method(RSM), the finite element method(FEM), the first-order reliability method (FORM), and the iterative linear interpolation scheme. The behavior of PR connections is captured using moment-relative rotation curves, and is represented by the four-parameter Richard model. For seismic excitation, the loading, unloading, and reloading behavior at PR connections is modeled using moment-relative rotation curves and the Masing rule. The seismic loading is applied in the time domain for realistic representation. The reliability of steel frames in the presence of PR connections is calculated considering all major sources of nonlinearity. The algorithm is clarified with the help of an example.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.72 no.2
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• pp.203-216
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• 2019

Reliability analysis of composite structures considering random variation of involved parameters is quite important as composite materials revealed large statistical variations in their mechanical properties. The reliability analysis of such structures by the first order reliability method (FORM) and Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) based approach involves repetitive evaluations of performance function. The response surface method (RSM) based metamodeling technique has emerged as an effective solution to such problems. In the application of metamodeling for uncertainty quantification and reliability analysis of composite structures; the finite element model is usually formulated by either classical laminate theory or first order shear deformation theory. But such theories show significant error in calculating the structural responses of composite structures. The present study attempted to apply the RSM based MCS for reliability analysis of composite shell structures where the surrogate model is constructed using higher order shear deformation theory (HSDT) of composite structures considering the uncertainties in the material properties, load, ply thickness and radius of curvature of the shell structure. The sensitivity of responses of the shell is also obtained by RSM and finite element method based direct approach to elucidate the advantages of RSM for response sensitivity analysis. The reliability results obtained by the proposed RSM based MCS and FORM are compared with the accurate reliability analysis results obtained by the direct MCS by considering two numerical examples.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.85 no.3
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• pp.369-379
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• 2023

Reliability-Based Design Optimization (RBDO) is an appropriate framework for obtaining optimal designs by taking uncertainties into account. Large-scale problems with implicit limit state functions and problems with discrete design variables are two significant challenges to traditional RBDO methods. To overcome these challenges, this paper proposes a hybrid method to perform RBDO of structures that links Firefly Algorithm (FA) as an optimization tool to advanced (finite element) reliability methods. Furthermore, the Genetic Algorithm (GA) and the FA are compared based on the design cost (objective function) they achieve. In the proposed method, Weighted Simulation Method (WSM) is utilized to assess reliability constraints in the RBDO problems with explicit limit state functions. WSM is selected to reduce computational costs. To performing RBDO of structures with finite element modeling and implicit limit state functions, a First-Order Reliability Method (FORM) based on the Direct Differentiation Method (DDM) is utilized. Four numerical examples are considered to assess the effectiveness of the proposed method. The findings illustrate that the proposed RBDO method is applicable and efficient for RBDO problems with discrete and continuous design variables and finite element modeling.