Probabilistic computation of the structural performance of moment resisting steel frames

This study investigates the reliability of the performance levels of moment resisting steel frames subjected to lateral loads such as wind and earthquake. The reliability assessment has been performed with respect to three performance levels: serviceability, damageability, and ultimate limit states. A four-story moment resisting frame is used as a typical example. In the reliability assessment the uncertainties in the loadings and in the capacity of the frame have been considered. The wind and earthquake loads are assumed to have lognormal distribution, and the frame resistance is assumed to have a normal distribution. In order to obtain an appropriate limit state function a linear relation between the loading and the deflection is formed. For the reliability analysis an algorithm has been developed for determination of limit state functions and iterations of the first order reliability method (FORM) procedure. By the method presented herein the multivariable analysis of a complicated reliability problem is reduced to an S-R problem. The procedure for iterations has been tested by a known problem for the purpose of avoiding convergence problems. The reliability indices for many cases have been obtained and also the effects of the coefficient of variation of load and resistance have been investigated.