Reliability evaluation using finite element method

Complicated structural systems are routinely analyzed using the finite element algorithm. In this way nonlinearities due to geometry and material characteristics, boundary or support, and connection conditions can be easily incorporated in the formulation. If a steel frame is found to be weak in resisting lateral loads, including wind and earthquake, concrete shear walls are used to increase the lateral stiffness. The finite element method is appropriate to analyze such a dual system subjected to both static and dynamic loadings. However, it is now accepted in the profession that most of the variables involved in the formation are random or a considerable amount of uncertainty is expected in predicting them. Thus, the deterministic analysis of complicated structural system is expected to be incomplete. On the other hand, the available reliability evaluation methods fail to represent the realistic structural behavior. We develop a stochastic finite element-based algorithm to evaluate the risk of complicated structural systems. We emphasize the reliability evaluation of a steel frame and reinforced concrete shear walls structural system under static loading condition