PREDICTING STRENGTH VARIABILITY OF CONCRETE OFFSHORE STRUCTURES

A method for predicting the sectional strength variability of complex concrete structures subjected to combined membrane forces, bending mom ents, and transverse shear is presented. SHELL474, which uses a three- dimensional generalization of the modified compression field theory to predict the theoretical capacity of complex concrete elements, is inc orporated within the reliability-analysis model RELAN, in order to eva luate the function defining the failure limit state. The method is use d in an example where the strength variability of the 1.4-m-thick ice wall of the Hibernia concrete offshore structure (1986 updated design) is studied. Statistical models for the 15 random variables that affec t the resistance of the structural concrete wall were determined from the literature. The analysis results illustrate the importance of obta ining updated statistical information on modern high-performance concr ete, for both the compressive and tensile-strength distributions.