Reliability based code calibration - The JCSS approach

Authors

Michael H. Faber and John D. Sørensen

Abstract

The present paper addresses fundamental concepts of reliability based code calibration. First basic principles of structural reliability theory are introduced and it is shown how the results of FORM based reliability analysis may be related to partial safety factors and characteristic values. Thereafter the code calibration problem is presented in its principal decision theoretical form and it is discussed how acceptable levels of failure probability (or target reliabilities) may be established. Furthermore suggested values for acceptable annual failure probabilities are given for ultimate and serviceability limit states. Finally the paper describes the Joint Committee on Structural Safety (JCSS) recommended procedure – CodeCal - for the practical implementation of reliability based code calibration of LRFD based design codes.

Published in/by

Proceedings ICASP9, 9th International Conference on Applications of Statistics and Probability in Civil Engineering, Vol. 2, San Francisco, USA, July 6-9, 2003, pp. 927-935.