Risk Based Approach to the Management of Structural Robustness

Authors

Michael H. Faber

Abstract

The present paper serves as an overview of recent developments by the author on the assessment and quantification of robustness of structures; the paper odes in thus sense not contain any new results but collects approaches and results from previous publications. A general decision theoretical approach to the assessment and management of structural robustness is outlined. Structural robustness is introduced as a quality of the system comprising the structure; a quality which can be assessed by means of risk assessments. To facilitate an appropriate risk assessment for structural systems a scenario based model approach is outlined which differentiates consequences into two different types; direct (related to damages to individual components) and indirect (related to collapse failures). The definition of the "structural system" thus plays an important role in the risk assessment and it is discussed how the robustness assessed according to different definitions of the structural system will lead to different results and insights of relevance for the life-cycle management of the structural integrity. Furthermore, the important aspects of standardization of robustness assessments as well as requirements to robustness are discussed and suggestions for the treatment of these are proposed. Based on the presented approach to the assessment of structural robustness it is outlined how decisions on design, assessment, inspection and maintenance as well as monitoring activities for structures can be optimized for the purpose of managing structural risks over all phases of the life-cycle of structures.

Published in/by

Proceedings, IWRERM08 International Workshop on Reliability Engineering and Risk Management, Shanghai, China, August 21-23, 2008.