High-order moment methods for LRFD including random variables with unknown probability distributions

Abstract

The reliability-based load and resistance factors design (LRFD) has been widely used in the structural design codes. In almost all of the current reliability methods for the determination of the load and resistance factors, the basic random variables are assumed to have known probability distributions. However, in reality, the probability distributions of some of the basic random variables are often unknown due to the lack of statistical data. In this paper, the high-order moment methods for LRFD including random variables with unknown probability distributions are proposed. From the investigation of the present paper, it can be concluded that: 1) The load and resistance factors can be determined even when the probability distributions of the basic random variables are unknown; 2) The present method is convenient and more effective in estimating the load and resistance factors in practical engineering since it needs neither the iterative computation of derivatives nor any design points; 3) In the applicable range of the high-order moment method, although the load and resistance factors obtained by the proposed method may be different from those obtained by first order reliability method (FORM), the target mean resistances obtained by both methods are essentially the same.