Reliability evaluation in nonlinear analysis of reinforced concrete structures

Modern building codes provide a basis for development of advanced nonlinear models for analysis and design of reinforced concrete (RC) structures. Application of nonlinear models permits direct evaluation of reliability of the whole structure at the stage of a structural analysis. In this paper a probabilistic method for reliability evaluation of plane frame structures with respect to ultimate limit states is proposed. The method is based on a combination of the nonlinear finite element structural model and the first-order reliability method (FORM). Implementation of the FORM for nonlinear analysis of RC structures is considered. Uncertainties associated with the structural model are taken into account and their influence on structural reliability is examined via sensitivity analysis.