Reliability-based Design
of Marine Structures
Marine structures are
particularly suited for reliability analysis and reliability-based
design because of the randomness and uncertainties in the loading caused
by extreme wave, wind, current and earthquake conditions and the
uncertainties in the strength of marine structures. Reliability analysis
is a process for evaluating the randomness of loads and resistances in
order to estimate the reliability of the structure, i.e., the
probability that it does not fail during its lifetime. Reliability-based
design is a procedure for achieving structural designs with sufficiently
high reliability.
Reliability analysis has
been particularly useful in assessing existing structures that have
suffered damage or experienced changes in loading conditions, and in
deciding among alternative remedial actions. For the design of new
structures, a procedure called Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD)
has been developed that helps size each component of a structure without
embarking on a complex reliability evaluation. The factors are based on
probabilistic parameters that characterize load and resistance
uncertainties and randomness. New designs using LRFD and advanced
reliability methods are more efficient than old designs because the
reliability among structural components is better balanced and steel is
placed where it does the most good. These reliability-based procedures
have been incorporated in the development of new API and ISO standards
for the design of marine structures.
Following are some of the
many individuals who pioneered in the development of this technology for
marine structures:
- Michael
J. Baker
- Robert G.
Bea
- C. Allin
Cornell
- Michael
Efthymiou
- Svein
Fjeld
- Ove
Gudmestad
- Richard
D. Larrabee
- James R.
Lloyd
- Henrik O.
Madsen
- Peter W.
Marshall
- Torgeir
Moan
- Fred
Moses
- Bernhard
Stahl
- Wilson H.
Tang
- Paul H.
Wirsching
