Impact of the wind load probability distribution and connection types on the reliability index of truss towers

The paper concerns the analysis of reliability of three truss towers performed with the system approach. The first stage of the reliability analysis involved determination of the reliability index for trusses while assuming the same reliability of elements. In the second stage, assessment of the reliability was made according to Eurocodes. The impact of the wind load probability distribution and connection types in towers on their reliability was analysed. In the capacity function, the following random variables were taken into account: cross-sectional area, yield strength, modulus of elasticity, minimum moment of inertia, and length of the element