Two Improved Algorithms for Reliability Analysis

Abstract

Improved versions of two optimization algorithms commmonly used in first-order reliability analysis are developed. One is for determining the first-order reliability index (3. The other is for inverse reliability analysis, i.e., determining the value of a determin-istic parameter such that the reliability index equals a target value f3t· Besides being mathematically more rigorous, these new versions are much simpler than earlier versions of these algorithms.