Application of SAP2000 API and .NET Framework for Reliability Assessment of RC Structures

Based on the results of integral structure analysis, a practical program for the reliability analysis of the members is introduced for engineering application. The .NET framework and SAP2000 API were combined to develop this program. The probability distribution parameters of the load and the material are the input parameters and then based on the integral structure analysis results, by combining the Monte Carlo simulation methods and the JC methods, the probability distribution of the load effects and the resistance of the members can be calculated, thus the reliability indices of each member could be obtained. Furthermore, an example was introduced and the comparative study between this proposed method and the conventional method for evaluation of a structure was carried out. The results show that it is a feasible method to evaluate the bearing capacity of a structure by exploiting reliability indices directly and this method can offer more quantitative reliability indicators of the structures.