Title: Performance-based optimum design of structures with vulnerability objectives

Authors: Vissarion Papadopoulos; Nikos D. Lagaros

Addresses: Institute of Structural Analysis & Seismic Research, National Technical University of Athens, 9, Iroon Polytechniou Str., Zografou Campus, 157 80 Athens, Greece ' Institute of Structural Analysis & Seismic Research, National Technical University of Athens, 9, Iroon Polytechniou Str., Zografou Campus, 157 80 Athens, Greece

Abstract: A methodology is proposed for the Performance-Based optimum seismic Design (PBD) of structures implementing vulnerability objectives. Vulnerability objectives are introduced through target limit-state probabilities of exceedance. This is achieved by performing additional probabilistic design checks. The PBD framework implementing vulnerability objectives allows designers to explicitly determine acceptable probabilities of exceedance of selected performance indices that must be satisfied simultaneously for all limit-states. The proposed methodology is formulated as a structural optimisation problem. The numerical results demonstrate that PBD framework implementing vulnerability objectives can be easily integrated into a design procedure and is generally applicable.

Keywords: performance objectives; performance-based design; vulnerability analysis; lifecycle cost analysis; LCA; structural optimisation; reliability; safety; optimal design; structural design; seismic design; earthquakes.

DOI: 10.1504/IJRS.2013.055825

International Journal of Reliability and Safety, 2013 Vol.7 No.1, pp.75 - 94

Received: 05 Jan 2011
Accepted: 09 Nov 2011
Published online: 20 Sep 2014 *

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