Comparison Between the Non-Probabilistic and Probabilistic Reliability Methods for Uncertain Structure Design
Guo Shuxiang(1), L¨¹ Zhenzhou(2)
(1,Faculty of Mechanics, Engineering Institute, Air Force Engineering University, Xi'an 710038,China)
(2,Department of Aircraft Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072,China)

Abstract: Traditional probabilistic reliability method has been widely accepted and used to dealing with uncertainties in engineering. In the paper, the non-probabilistic reliability method we proposed in a previous paper and the widely used traditional probabilistic reliability method are compared systematically. First, the contrasts of modeling concept, model construction, and formulations for computation, etc. between the two reliability methods are put forward. Some concepts are interpreted further. Then, the reliability-based optimization of uncertain structures is compared between the two methods through a practical example. Some beneficial conclusions are obtained. Some results illustrate that the non-probabilistic reliability may be a good choice when the available data of uncertainties is lack or limited. It is also shown by a numerical example that, when non-probabilistic reliability model is constructed based on probabilistic information, the results of structural optimization based on the non-probabilistic reliability may be identical with the results based on probabilistic reliability. All this show further that the non-probabilistic reliability method is effective and useful.
Keywords: probabilistic reliability, non-probabilistic reliability, structural reliability, structural optimization.