Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Probabilistic Analysis and Reliability of Engineering Structures

Olsson, Anders LU (2002) In Report TVSM TVSM-1014.
Abstract
This thesis, consisting of six papers, concerns methods for probabilistic analysis of engineering structures. The work comprises evaluations of available methods, developments of new and improved methods, and applications of probabilistic analysis to engineering structures.



Comparative calculations using methods representing different strategies for stochastic finite element analysis were carried out, aiming at an evaluation with respect to computational efficiency, general applicability, and availability for practising engineers. Among the evaluated methods, the Monte Carlo simulation technique using Latin hypercube sampling was found to be attractive with respect to general applicability, since the handling of the... (More)
This thesis, consisting of six papers, concerns methods for probabilistic analysis of engineering structures. The work comprises evaluations of available methods, developments of new and improved methods, and applications of probabilistic analysis to engineering structures.



Comparative calculations using methods representing different strategies for stochastic finite element analysis were carried out, aiming at an evaluation with respect to computational efficiency, general applicability, and availability for practising engineers. Among the evaluated methods, the Monte Carlo simulation technique using Latin hypercube sampling was found to be attractive with respect to general applicability, since the handling of the stochastic variables is separate from mechanical modelling and numerical analysis. A method utilizing principal component analysis was suggested in order to bring Latin hypercube sampling in line with finite element analysis.



Methods for utilizing Latin hypercubes in importance sampling for structural reliability analysis were suggested. It was shown that simple importance sampling, as well as axis orthogonal importance sampling, can be considerably improved, with respect to computational efficiency, using Latin hypercube sampling instead of true random sampling. The improvement of the first method is dependent on a transformation of the stochastic variables in standard Gaussian space, resulting in a sample plan with one direction orthogonal to the tangent hyperplane of the failure surface at the design point.



The effects of damage caused by truck impacts to slender columns of racking systems were investigated by means of numerical simulations and laboratory tests. Three different thin-walled steel profiles were considered and it was found that even moderate geometrical imperfections result in considerable reduction of the load carrying capacity of individual columns. A study of the effects on entire racking systems was also performed in which damage magnitudes were regarded as probabilistic parameters.



Wooden roof trusses with nail-plate joints were analysed focusing on the influence of gaps between wooden members and misplaced nail-plates. Both issues arise as a consequence of lack of precision in the manufacturing process and the magnitudes of the imperfections were regarded as probabilistic parameters. Especially gaps between wooden members were shown to be of considerable importance for the deflection of roof trusses. In addition to the probabilistic analysis, a procedure was employed to optimize the nail-plate locations with respect to the deflection of a roof truss. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
supervisor
opponent
  • Professor Schuëller, Gerhart, Österrike
organization
publishing date
type
Thesis
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Building construction, Byggnadsteknik, roof truss, racking system, importance sampling, Latin hypercube sampling, reliability
in
Report TVSM
volume
TVSM-1014
pages
154 pages
publisher
Division of Structural Mechanics, Lund University, Box 118, 221 00 LUND,
defense location
V:B, V-building, Lund Institute of Technology
defense date
2003-03-07 10:15:00
ISSN
0281-6679
ISBN
91-628-5528-X
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Article: A. Olsson. An Overview and Comparison of Methods for Stochastic Finite Element Analysis, Report TVSM-7135, Lund Institute of Technology, Division of Structural Mechanics, Lund, Sweden, 2002. Article: A. Olsson and G. Sandberg, Latin Hypercube Sampling for Stochastic Finite Element Analysis. (2002), Journal of Engineering Mechanics, 128(1), 121-125. Article: A. Olsson, G. Sandberg and O. Dahlblom, On Latin Hypercube Sampling for Structural Reliability Analysis. (2003), Structural Safety, 25(1), 47-68. Article: A. Olsson, G. Sandberg and P.-E. Austrell. Load-carrying Capacity of Damaged Steel Columns with Channel Sections. (1999), Journal of Structural Engineering, 125(3), 338-343. Article: G. Sandberg and A. Olsson. Failure Sensitivity Analysis of Engineering Structures. (1999), Computers & Structures, 72(4-5), 525-534.A. Olsson, Probabilistic Analysis and Optimization of Roof Trusses (2002), Submitted for publ. Electronic Journal of Structural Engineering.
id
54e8515f-1f1c-4be3-b371-f3e46e83fed0 (old id 465478)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 16:52:25
date last changed
2023-10-16 09:45:40
@phdthesis{54e8515f-1f1c-4be3-b371-f3e46e83fed0,
  abstract     = {{This thesis, consisting of six papers, concerns methods for probabilistic analysis of engineering structures. The work comprises evaluations of available methods, developments of new and improved methods, and applications of probabilistic analysis to engineering structures.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
Comparative calculations using methods representing different strategies for stochastic finite element analysis were carried out, aiming at an evaluation with respect to computational efficiency, general applicability, and availability for practising engineers. Among the evaluated methods, the Monte Carlo simulation technique using Latin hypercube sampling was found to be attractive with respect to general applicability, since the handling of the stochastic variables is separate from mechanical modelling and numerical analysis. A method utilizing principal component analysis was suggested in order to bring Latin hypercube sampling in line with finite element analysis.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
Methods for utilizing Latin hypercubes in importance sampling for structural reliability analysis were suggested. It was shown that simple importance sampling, as well as axis orthogonal importance sampling, can be considerably improved, with respect to computational efficiency, using Latin hypercube sampling instead of true random sampling. The improvement of the first method is dependent on a transformation of the stochastic variables in standard Gaussian space, resulting in a sample plan with one direction orthogonal to the tangent hyperplane of the failure surface at the design point.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
The effects of damage caused by truck impacts to slender columns of racking systems were investigated by means of numerical simulations and laboratory tests. Three different thin-walled steel profiles were considered and it was found that even moderate geometrical imperfections result in considerable reduction of the load carrying capacity of individual columns. A study of the effects on entire racking systems was also performed in which damage magnitudes were regarded as probabilistic parameters.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
Wooden roof trusses with nail-plate joints were analysed focusing on the influence of gaps between wooden members and misplaced nail-plates. Both issues arise as a consequence of lack of precision in the manufacturing process and the magnitudes of the imperfections were regarded as probabilistic parameters. Especially gaps between wooden members were shown to be of considerable importance for the deflection of roof trusses. In addition to the probabilistic analysis, a procedure was employed to optimize the nail-plate locations with respect to the deflection of a roof truss.}},
  author       = {{Olsson, Anders}},
  isbn         = {{91-628-5528-X}},
  issn         = {{0281-6679}},
  keywords     = {{Building construction; Byggnadsteknik; roof truss; racking system; importance sampling; Latin hypercube sampling; reliability}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Division of Structural Mechanics, Lund University, Box 118, 221 00 LUND,}},
  school       = {{Lund University}},
  series       = {{Report TVSM}},
  title        = {{Probabilistic Analysis and Reliability of Engineering Structures}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/160171658/web1014.pdf}},
  volume       = {{TVSM-1014}},
  year         = {{2002}},
}