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Extension of quasi-Newton approximation-based SORM for series system reliability analysis of geotechnical problems

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Abstract

The quasi-Newton approximation-based second-order reliability method is extended, through the incorporation of a linearization approach, to analyze the series system reliability of geotechnical problems. Two types of quasi-Newton approximations are applied to identify the design point and to compute the second-order probability of failure, respectively. The equivalent second-order reliability index is obtained using an approximation hyperplane for each limit state function. Then, the computed equivalent second order reliability indices can be employed, together with the corresponding unit direction vectors, to estimate the series system probability of failure using a linearization approach. Three geotechnical problems are employed to demonstrate the efficiency and accuracy of the suggested procedure, and advantages with respect to alternative computational tools are discussed.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Project No. 41602304), the State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection (Project No. SKLGP2016Z003), the Chinese Ministry of Transport (Project No. 2015318J29040) and the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Project No. BIA2015-69152-R). Their support is greatly appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection (Chengdu University of Technology), 1#, Dongsanlu, Erxianqiao, Chengdu, 610059, Sichuan, China

    Peng Zeng, Tianbin Li & Yu Chen

  2. Department of Ground Engineering, Technical University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Rafael Jimenez

  3. School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Jinan, Jinan, China

    Xianda Feng

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  1. Peng Zeng
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  2. Tianbin Li
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  3. Rafael Jimenez
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  4. Xianda Feng
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  5. Yu Chen
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Correspondence to Tianbin Li.

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Zeng, P., Li, T., Jimenez, R. et al. Extension of quasi-Newton approximation-based SORM for series system reliability analysis of geotechnical problems. Engineering with Computers 34, 215–224 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00366-017-0536-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00366-017-0536-8

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