Reliability of Frame and Shear Wall Structural Systems. I: Static Loading

Abstract

A hybrid reliability evaluation approach is proposed, consisting of the response surface method, the finite-element method, the first-order reliability method, and the linear iterative scheme when the load is applied dynamically to a complicated structural system. The method is especially applicable for realistic structural systems consisting of different types of structural elements and materials. The method was specifically developed to evaluate the reliability of a steel frame and reinforced concrete shear wall structural system subjected to seismic loading. The unique feature of this algorithm is that the earthquake loading can be applied in the time domain, enabling a realistic representation of the seismic loading conditions. The steel members are represented by beam-column elements and the shear walls are represented by plate elements. The deterministic algorithm, discussed in detail in the companion paper, is then extended to consider the uncertainty in the random variables. The reliability of a frame without and with RC shear walls is evaluated for the serviceability performance functions. The results are verified using Monte Carlo simulation. The method estimates the probability of failure very accurately, and is very efficient compared to simulation. The algorithm can be used to estimate the reliability of complicated structural systems consisting of different types of structural elements and materials under dynamic including seismic loading applied in time domain.