A Mean Value Reliability Method for Bimodal Distributions
Abstract
In traditional reliability problems, the distribution of a basic random variable is usually unimodal; in other words, the probability density of the basic random variable has only one peak. In real applications, some basic random variables may follow bimodal distributions with two peaks in their probability density. For example, the random load of a bridge may have two peaks, with a distribution consisting of a weighted sum of two normal distributions, suggested by traffic load data. When binomial variables are involved, traditional reliability methods, such as the First Order Second Moment (FOSM) method and the First Order Reliability Method (FORM), will not be accurate. This study investigates the accuracy of using the saddlepoint approximation for bimodal variables and then employs a mean value reliability method to accurately predict the reliability. A limit-state function is at first approximated with the first order Taylor expansion so that it becomes a linear combination of the basic random variables, some of which are bimodally distributed. The saddlepoint approximation is then applied to estimate the reliability. Examples show that the new method is more accurate than FOSM and FORM.
Recommended Citation
Z. Hu and X. Du, "A Mean Value Reliability Method for Bimodal Distributions," Proceedings of the ASME Design Engineering Technical Conference and Computers and Information in Engineering Conference (2017, Cleveland, OH), vol. 2B-2017, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Aug 2017.
The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1115/DETC2017-67279
Meeting Name
ASME 2017 International Design Engineering Technical Conferences and Computers and Information in Engineering Conference, IDETC/CIE 2017 (2017: Aug. 6-9, Cleveland, OH)
Department(s)
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Keywords and Phrases
Computer Aided Design; Design; Normal Distribution; Probability Density Function; Random Variables; Reliability; Structural Analysis, Bimodal Distribution; First Order Reliability Methods; First Order Second Moment Method; Limit State Functions; Linear Combinations; Probability Densities; Reliability Problems; Saddle-Point Approximation, Probability Distributions
International Standard Book Number (ISBN)
978-0-7918-5813-4
Document Type
Article - Journal
Document Version
Citation
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2017 American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), All rights reserved.
Publication Date
01 Aug 2017
Comments
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under grant CMMI 1562593 and the Intelligence Systems Center at Missouri University of Science and Technology.