Structural reliability using the finite element method

Most reliability methods are applicable only for relatively simple structural systems with analytically formulated limit state functions and a few random variables. The combination of these standard reliability methods with structural analysis based on physically and geometrically non-linear Finite Element calculations leads to large computation times. In order to reduce the calculation time special methods like response surface techniques and advanced Monte Carlo methods may be used. The paper will review a number of these methods on items like accuracy, calculation time and required pre-knowledge. It turns out that an intelligent combination of an adaptive Directional Sampling Procedure and the Response Surface methods (DARS) offers a calculation scheme that makes probabilistic methods suitable for the design of every day as well as special structure