Load and Resistance Factor Design for Steel Miter Gates

Abstract : The design of hydraulic steel structures (HSS) in the past has been based on allowable stress design (ASD) principles that address design uncertainty in a subjective manner. This technical report describes the methodology for an improved basis for determining load requirements for the design of HSS using modem structural reliability analysis and probabilistic load combination techniques. This methodology will facilitate the development of design loads and their combinations for use in load and resistance factor design (LRFD). This report demonstrates the methodology for miter gates by considering load combinations involving dead load, hydrostatic load, hydrodynamic load during gate operation, temporal hydraulic load, earthquake load, and barge impact load. This report describes the reliability bases for LRFD, load and resistance data for lock structures, and development of probability based design requirements. Significant loads and load combinations for miter gates are identified, a statical database to support probabilistic load combination analysis is developed, and analysis of reliabilities associated with current ASD procedures and selection of target reliability levels is presented. Based on these studies, LRFD load requirements for miter gates including load combinations and load factors are developed. Allowable stress design, Limit state, Load, Load and resistance factor design, Load combination, Miter gate, Probability, Random variable, Reliability, Resistance, Statistics, Strength.