Peak Factors for Non-Gaussian Load Effects Revisited

Abstract

The estimation of the extreme of non-Gaussian load effects for design applications has often been treated tacitly by invoking a conventional peak factor on the basis of Gaussian processes. This assumption breaks down when the loading process exhibits non-Gaussianity, in which a conventional peak factor yields relatively nonconservative estimates because of failure to include long tail regions inherent to non-Gaussian processes. To realistically capture the salient characteristics of non-Gaussian load effects and incorporate these in the estimates of their extremes, this study examines the peak factor for non-Gaussian processes, which can be used for estimating the expected value of the positive and negative extremes of non-Gaussian load effects. The efficacy of previously introduced analytical expressions for the peak factor of non-Gaussian processes on the basis of a moment-based Hermite model is evaluated and the variance of the estimates in standard deviation is derived. In addition, some improvements ...