Safety analysis of tension elements using various reliability methods

Abstract

This work is an extension of the earlier research done by the authors in this area (Putcha and Kreiner, 1993) wherein these principles were applied to a steel beam with an external moment. The main methods used for estimation of reliability in the previous as well as the present research are: the First Order Second Moment (FOSM) method, the Advanced First Order Second Moment (AFOSM) and the Point Estimate Method (PEM). For each method, the reliability of the tension element is calculated. The safety indices (/spl beta/) are calculated for the various types of probabilistic combinations of resistance and load. Results obtained by these three methods are compared to one another. Subsequently, relevant conclusions are drawn.