LOAD SPACE RELIABILITY FORMULATION FOR POISSON PULSE PROCESSES

The directional-simulation procedure to estimate the zero-time failure probability and the outcrossing rate for structural systems is extend ed to structural frames subject to loads modeled as mixed Poisson puls e processes. The problem is formulated in the space of the load proces ses. The structural system resistance is represented by probabilistica lly defined region boundaries obtained from the presumed (known) limit state functions for the structure. The theory is applied to a simple rigid framed structural system acted on by two discrete load processes . The results obtained are compared with those derived from a consider ation of bounds on the outcrossing rate for mixed sparse Poisson proce sses. A comparison with results published in the literature is also gi ven. It is shown that there may be considerable differences. A detaile d discussion of the reasons for these differences closes this paper.