Reliability-Based Criteria for Fixed Steel Offshore Platforms

Abstract

The key issue addressed in this paper is the accuracy of structural reliability models for the case of fixed steel offshore structures under extreme storm loading. The emphasis is on engineering accuracy for the purpose of use in decision-making, and more specifically to achieve sufficient accuracy to enable the use of reliability models in deriving design criteria for fixed offshore platforms. These reliability models are used to derive partial load factors for use in conjunction with API LRFD to achieve a target reliability level appropriate for permanently manned installations. These load factors are location-dependent. Further load factors are proposed for the design of new, not normally manned installations.