Safety variability assessment of reinforced concrete beams subjected to bending moment considering the NBR 6118:2014 safety partial factors

This paper presents a study about safety of reinforced concrete beams subjected to bending moment and designed with the partial safety factors proposed by ABNT NBR 6118:2014. The main goal was to assess the uniformity in the safety of the beams considering different values for the neutral axis position and the load ratio, by using the Reliability Theory. A simplified procedure to calibrate the partial safety factors was proposed taking into account the nature of each random variable and a target reliability index. From the analysis of the results, an alternative method for the design of reinforced concrete beams was also proposed, in which safety is guaranteed by the using of a probability of failure instead a set of partial safety factors. The results showed the lack of uniformity in the safety of the beams design with de constant set of partial safety factors. The procedures of design and calibration of the new safety factors were capable of to give uniformity to the safety of the beams and to achieve the proper structural configuration with the required safety level.