Reliability analysis of steel truss bars with imprecise statistical data

Abstract

The article describes the probabilistic approach of reliability analysis for steel truss bars with imprecise statistical data. An approach to recovery the probability density of a random variable by the kernel density estimation method is illustrated for a small number of tests/measurements cases. The estimation of the distribution density parameters is presented in an interval form, which makes it possible to form a p-box for the random variable. Evaluation of the probability of non-failure allow to get a quantitative assessment for the safety of steel trusses, to identify the most unreliable trusses for monitoring their technical condition or to calculate the effect of strengthening the truss according to the reliability criterion. The probability of non-failure is estimated in the interval form. If the lower limit of the interval does not allow to get a conclusion about the truss safety level, then it can be increased by obtaining additional statistical data or by strengthening the truss or reducing the permissible load.