Reliability Index for Reinforced Concrete Frames using Nonlinear Pushover and Dynamic Analysis

In the conventional design and analysis methods affecting parameters loads, material's strength, etc) are not set as probable variables. Safety factors in the current Codes and Standards are usually obtained on the basis of judgment and experience, which may be improper or uneconomical. In technical literature, a method based on nonlinear static analysis is suggested to set Reliability Index on strength of structural systems. In this paper, a method based on Nonlinear Dynamic analysis with rising acceleration (or Incremental Dynamic Analysis) is introduced, the results of which are compared with those of the previous (Static Pushover Analysis) method and two concepts namely Redundancy Strength and Redundancy Variations are proposed as an index to these impacts. The Redundancy Variation Factor and Redundancy Strength Factor indices for reinforced concrete frames with varying number of bays and stories and different ductility potentials are computed and ultimately, Reliability Index is determined using these two indices.