Page 90 - Reliability and Maintainability of In service Pipelines

Methods Chapter

for Structural

Reliability Analysis 3

Abstract
This chapter explains the basics of structural reliability analysis which can be used for
structural assessment of in-service structures and infrastructures. The aim in structural
reliability analysis is calculation of failure probability in which failure is defined as
violation of limit state function.
Structural systems and approaches to estimate their reliability, depending on the
configuration of the system, will be discussed in Sections 3.4 and 3.5. The evaluation
of the contributions of various uncertain parameters associated with pipeline life
assessment can be carried out by using sensitivity analysis techniques. For a
comprehensive reliability analysis, sensitivity analysis needs to be conducted to
indicate variables which affect reliability most. Parametric sensitivity analysis
approach including calculation of sensitivity indexes will also be discussed in this
chapter.
The basic knowledge of structural reliability analysis is the prerequisite for Chapter 4,
Time-Dependent Reliability Analysis, to better understand time-dependent reliability
analysis methods for calculation of failure probability of deteriorating pipelines.

Chapter Outline
3.1 Background 80
3.2 Theory of Reliability Analysis 81
79

Reliability and Maintainability of In-Service Pipelines. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-813578-5.00003-2
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