Reliability Sensitivity Analysis with Random and Interval Variables

Abstract

In reliability analysis and reliability-based design, sensitivity analysis identifies the relationship between the change in reliability and the change in the characteristics of uncertain variables. Sensitivity analysis is also used to identify the most significant uncertain variables that have the highest contributions to reliability. Most of the current sensitivity analysis methods are applicable for only random variables. In many engineering applications, however, some of uncertain variables are intervals. In this work, a sensitivity analysis method is proposed for the mixture of random and interval variables. Six sensitivity indices are defined for the sensitivity of the average reliability and reliability bounds with respect to the averages and widths of intervals, as well as with respect to the distribution parameters of random variables. The equations of these sensitivity indices are derived based on the first-order reliability method (FORM). The proposed reliability sensitivity analysis is a byproduct of FORM without any extra function calls after reliability is found. Once FORM is performed, the sensitivity information is obtained automatically. Two examples are used for demonstration.

Department(s)

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Sponsor(s)

National Science Foundation (U.S.)
University of Missouri Research Board

Keywords and Phrases

Intervals; Reliability; Sensitivity Analysis

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0029-5981

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2009 John Wiley & Sons, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Jan 2009

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