RELIABILITY-BASED STRUCTURAL-ANALYSIS AND OPTIMIZATION IN X-WINDOW ENVIRONMENT

A graphic-based application in X window environment using Open Softwar e Foundation (OSF)'s Motif toolkit is developed for comprehensive reli ability based analysis and design of structures. The application is in terfaced with an efficient safety index calculation code for conductin g probabilistic analysis of structures for different performance funct ions using statistical data of random variables. It is also integrated with a reliability based optimization code for obtaining an optimum s et of design parameters by determining analytical sensitivities and co nstructing approximations for the reliability constraint. The graphic user-interface includes interface with external graphic packages along with Motif window-widget layout to enhance visual perceiving capabili ties and interpretational facilities. Probability analysis and design of turbine blades and frame structures with multidisciplinary requirem ents were addressed during the development of the analysis and design codes.