Towards nonlinear reliability assessment of concrete transport structures

Novel technique combining non-linear finite element analysis of the structural model with advanced stochastic simulation methods for realistic computer simulation and reliability assessment of civil engineering structures is presented. Elite non-linear material models are used for modelling of the structural materials within an advanced finite element computer simulation. Material properties and corresponding model parameters including their randomness and uncertainties are represented as random variables or random fields in the stochastic simulation using stratified Latin Hypercube Sampling and Simulated Annealing methods. Probabilistic evaluation of the numerical results enables to assess stochastic parameters of the model response, structural resistance, failure probability, safety index and structural reliability.