Practical method for determining load and resistance factors using third-moment transformation

Pei-Pei Li , Zhao-Hui Lu , Yan-Gang Zhao

Abstract

Load and resistance factor design (LRFD) is a suitable format for the reliability-based limit state design of structures. It has been adopted in many countries, such as the United States, Europe, Canada, and Japan. Usually, the first-order reliability method (FORM) is used to estimate the load and resistance factors, but it requires the determination of design points and complicated double iterative computations. Therefore, FORM is not easy or practical for engineers to use. This paper presents a simple, accurate method to determine the load and resistance factors utilizing the third-moment transformation, which does not require derivative-based iterations and can estimate the load and resistance factors without using the distribution of random variables. In addition, the proposed method provides enough accurate results within a wide range of target reliability indices. Therefore, this method should be effective and convenient for calculating the load and resistance factors in actual practice. Five numerical examples illustrate the proposed method's efficiency and accuracy; FORM provides a benchmark for comparison.

Key Words

FORM; limit state design; LRFD; third-moment transformation

Address

Pei-Pei Li — Department of Architecture, Kanagawa University, 3-27-1 Rokkakubashi, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama 221-8686, Japan
Zhao-Hui Lu — Key Laboratory of Urban Security and Disaster Engineering of Ministry of Education, Beijing University of Technology, No.100 Pingleyuan, Beijing 100124, China; National Engineering Laboratory for High Speed Railway Construction, Central South University, 22 Shaoshannan Road, Changsha 410075, China
Yan-Gang Zhao — Department of Architecture, Kanagawa University, 3-27-1 Rokkakubashi, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama 221-8686, Japan

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