• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.331-338
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• 2022

Face stability analyses provides the most probable failure mechanisms and the understanding about parameters that need to be considered for the evaluation of ground movements caused by tunneling. After the Upper Bound Method (UBM) solution which can consider the influence of seepage forces and depth-dependent effective cohesion is verified with the numerical experiments, the probabilistic model is proposed to calculate the unbiased limiting tunnel collapse pressure. A reliability analysis of a shallow circular tunnel driven by a pressurized shield in a frictional and cohesive soil is presented to consider the inherent uncertainty in the input parameters and the proposed model. The probability of failure that exceeding a specified applied pressure at the tunnel face is estimated. Sensitivity and importance measures are computed to identify the key parameters and random variables in the model.

• Journal of Applied Reliability
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.201-207
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• 2018

Purpose: To develop the reliability growth planning for a subsystem of guided weapon system using PM2-Continuous model. Methods: The target MTBF of the subsystem is set by allocating the system target MTBF to the lower level, where ARINC method is applied. Other model parameters such as initial MTBF, management strategy ratio and average fix effectiveness factor are chosen from historical growth parameter estimates. Given the values of model parameters, the reliability growth planning curve using PM2-Continuous model is constructed and the sensitivity analyses are performed for the changes of model parameters. Results: We have developed the reliability growth plan for a subsystem of guided weapon system using PM2-Continuous model. It was found that the smaller the ratio of initial MTBF to target MTBF, the smaller the management strategy ratio, the smaller the average fix effectiveness factor, and the shorter the development test period, the higher reliability growth is required. Conclusion: The result of this study will be used as a basis for establishing the reliability growth plan, the test period setting and the budget appropriation for the similar system entering the system development stage in the future.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.129-132
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• 2007

It is generally known that software reliability growth models such as the Jelinski-Moranda model and the Goel-Okumoto's non-homogeneous Poisson process (NHPP) model cannot be applied to safety-critical software due to a lack of software failure data. In this paper, by applying two of the most widely known software reliability growth models to sample software failure data, we demonstrate the possibility of using the software reliability growth models to prove the high reliability of safety-critical software. The high sensitivity of a piece of software's reliability to software failure data, as well as a lack of sufficient software failure data, is also identified as a possible limitation when applying the software reliability growth models to safety-critical software.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-18
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• 2008

The conventional design of bridge piers against scour uses scour equations which involve number of uncertain flow, sediments and structural parameters. The inherent high uncertainties in these parameters suggest that the reliability of piers must be assessed to ensure desirable safety of bridges against scour. In the present study, a procedure for the reliability assessment of bridge piers, installed in main and flood channels, against scour has been presented. To study the influence of various random variables on piers' reliability sensitivity analysis has been carried out. To incorporate the reliability in the evaluation of safety factor, a simplified relationship between safety factor and reliability index has been proposed. Effects of clear water (flood channel) and live bed scour (main channel) are highlighted on pier reliability. In addition to these, an attempt has also been made to explain the failure of Black mount bridge of New Zealand based on its pier's reliability analysis. Some parametric studies have also been included to obtain the results of practical interest.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.6 no.8
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• pp.901-919
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• 1998

Most reliability-based analyses focus on the reliability of the individual components of a structure. There are many advantages to examining the components in combination as an entire structural system. This paper illustrates an algorithm used in the computer program RELSYS (RELiability of SYStems) which computes the system reliability of any structure which can be modeled as a series-parallel combination of its components. A first-order method is used to initially compute the reliability of each individual component. The system reliability is computed by successively reducing the series and parallel systems until the system has been simplified to a single equivalent component. Equivalent alpha vectors are used to account for the correlation between failure modes during the system reduction process.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.313-326
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• 2017

Based on the reliability theory and limit analysis method, the roof stability of a shallow tunnel is investigated under the condition of surface settlement. Nonlinear Hoek-Brown failure criterion is adopted in the present analysis. With the consideration of surface settlement, the internal energy and external work are calculated. Equating the rate of energy dissipation to the external rate of work, the expression of support pressure is derived. With the help of variational approach, a performance function is proposed to reliability analysis. Improved response surface method is used to calculate the Hasofer-Lind reliability index and the failure probability. In order to assess the validity of the present results, Monte-Carlo simulation is performed to examine the correctness. Sensitivity analysis is used to estimate the influence of different variables on reliability index. Among random variables, the unit weight significantly affects the reliability index. It is found that the greater coefficient of variation of variables lead to the higher failure probability. On the basis of the discussions, the reliability-based design is achieved to calculate the required tunnel support pressure under different situations when the target reliability index is obtained.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2009.03a
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• pp.759-767
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• 2009

Recently, there is a trend to introduce a reliability approach to the design of al large scale improvement of weak ground due to the uncertainty of the influence factors in the consolidation. Since the reliability analysis is not easily adopted to geotechnical engineers because of some difficulties in working up the theories, Duncan(2000) proposed a simplified method for using reliability method to goetechnical problems. In this study, the applicability of Duncan's simplified reliability approach is evaluated by comparing the traditional reliability results with Duncan's. In the sensitivity analysis, the two results were quite similar. However, the probability of failure showed an error range of 20~50% and further Duncan's approach could not make a distinction for the distribution of geotechnical random variables. The simplified reliability method seems to be used properly in preliminary design if it is used supplementary with the deterministic method.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.643-651
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• 2014

In this paper the reliability analyses of the cable-supported bridge design code which is recently issued in Korea are performed and the results are presented. Governing load combinations for the member design and the statistical properties of the main members are introduced and the analysis is performed using an example cable-stayed bridge for which the design is performed following the load and resistance factors defined in the design code. The reliability analysis shows the target reliability index can be achieved by applying load and resistance factors and the application of the resistance modification factor can enhance the reliability level if the importance of the bridge needs to be increased. The sensitivity analysis reveals that decreasing uncertainty of the cable strength is critical for obtaining the target reliability index. The study results show that the design using the load and resistance factors of the code can achieve the target reliability indexes for the design of cable supported bridge.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Technology Engineers
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.529-538
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• 2010

This paper presents a reliability-based topology optimization (RBTO) based on bidirectional evolutionary structural optimization (BESO). In design of a structure, uncertain conditions such as material property, operational load and dimensional variation should be considered. Deterministic topology optimization (DTO) is performed without considering the uncertainties related to the design variables. However, the RBTO can consider the uncertainty variables because it can deal with the probabilistic constraints. The reliability index approach (RIA) and the performance measure approach (PMA) are adopted to evaluate the probabilistic constraints in this study. In order to apply the BESO to the RBTO, sensitivity number for each element is defined as the change in the reliability index of the structure due to removal of each element. Smoothing scheme is also used to eliminate checkerboard patterns in topology optimization. The limit state indicates the margin of safety between the resistance (constraints) and the load of structures. The limit State function expresses to evaluate reliability index from finite element analysis. Numerical examples are presented to compare each optimal topology obtained from RBTO and DTO each other. It is verified that the RBTO based on BESO can be effectively performed from the results.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.147-157
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• 2011

As a background study to apply the reliability-based resistance factors to the domestic concrete bridge design code, a comparative study is conducted for the design results and the reliability indexes obtained by adopting different resistance factor formats to yield the design strength of concrete structures. The design results which are calculated by applying the section resistance factors of the current domestic design code and the material resistance factors of Eurocode are compared for the concrete beam bridge. The reliability index is calculated by considering the uncertainties involved in material, dimension and strength equation during the design procedure to get the strength of concrete structure. Also, the sensitivity analysis is performed to figure out which design variables have great impact on the reliability index. The resistance factors of the current domestic bridge design code, AASHTO LRFD and Eurocode are applied to the bridge design for flexure and shear strength and the results show that the resistance factors of the domestic code give the largest reliability indexes. It is observed that the probabilistic distribution of the live load makes difference for the reliability index and the yield strength of reinforcing steel and the live load have great impact on the reliability of both flexural and shear strength of concrete beam through the sensitivity analysis.