Response uncertainty and time-variant reliability analysis for hysteretic MDF structures

Abstract

Response uncertainty evaluation and dynamic reliability analysis corresponding to classical stochastic dynamic analysis are usually restricted to the uncertainties of the excitation. The inclusion of the parameter uncertainties contained in structural properties and excitation characteristics has become an increasingly important problem in many areas of dynamics. In the present paper, a point estimate procedure is proposed for the evaluation of stochastic response uncertainty, and a response surface approach procedure in standard normal space is proposed for analysis of time-variant reliability analysis for hysteretic MDF structures having parameter uncertainties. Using the proposed procedures, the response uncertainties and time-variant reliability can be easily obtained by several repetitions of stochastic response analysis under given parameters without conducting sensitivity analysis, which is considered to be one of the primary difficulties associated with conventional methods. In the time-variant reliability analysis, the failure probability can be readily obtained by improving the accuracy of the first-order reliability method using the empirical second-order reliability index. The random variables are divided into two groups, those with CDF and those without CDF. The latter are included via the high-order moment standardization technique. A numerical example of a 15F hysteretic MDF structure that takes into account uncertainties of four structural parameters and three excitation characteristics is performed, based on which the proposed procedures are investigated and the effects of parameter uncertainties are discussed. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.