Analysis of modern approaches to assessing reliability in construction

Abstract

Introduction. The study considers modern strategies for ensuring the reliability of building structures in Russian and foreign regulations, including probabilistic, risk-informed and semi-probabilistic criteria of reliability assessment, at all stages of the life cycle of the structure. The advantages and disadvantages of prescriptive and parametric approaches are analyzed and ways of their further improvement are suggested.Aim. To clarify the terminology of parametric regulation in construction, to analyze the existing differences in its interpretation, and to develop an innovative strategy for further development of Russian regulation based on a comparative analysis of domestic and foreign approaches to reliability assessment.Materials and methods. The methodology involved studying the structure of Russian and foreign regulatory documents in the field of reliability and performing their comparative analysis. The study considered the main approaches to technical regulation in the construction industry.Results. The analysis outlined the criteria underlying the fastest introduction of innovations and ensuring the safety of technical solutions. The study demonstrated the difference between the meaning of the term “parametric regulation” in Russian strategy and its foreign interpretation. The regulation standards of the Russian Federation are based mainly on a semi-probabilistic approach and specification of partial reliability factors, i.e. individual parameters of strength and loads, while in the foreign standards, notably in ISO 2394:2016 and Eurocodes, the emphasis is shifted to qualitative and probabilistic criteria for assessing reliability. However, all social, economic and performance criteria should be observed only after all requirements for the reliability and safety of people have been met. Thus, both Russian and foreign approaches to regulation demonstrate no fundamental contradictions. The approaches are gradually moving towards convergence while maintaining continuity in the development of the regulatory framework.Conclusions. The principles of ensuring the reliability of the designed buildings and structures in Russian, international and foreign regulation standards are quite close and are based on the limit state method with a reasonable combination of mandatory and recommended parameters. The main criterion consists in ensuring the safety of human life. Under contemporary conditions, traditional semi-probabilistic approaches to regulation should be accompanied by mechanisms for rapid introduction of innovations and new technologies in construction. In terms of reliability, these mechanisms involve additional probabilistic reliability criteria and risk assessment methods. The reliability criteria will contribute in choosing the optimal design and technological solutions for the construction of unique buildings and structures, higher criticality structures, as well as in assessing existing structures during their life cycle.