RELIABILITY-BASED DESIGN METHODS FOR PROTECTIVE STRUCTURES

This paper summarizes the results of research to develop reliability-b ased design methods for use with the United States Air Force Protectiv e Construction Design Manual (PCDM). The application of these methods is based on easy-to-use, reliability-based design factors (RBDFs). The research focused on five fundamental areas: (1) airblast and abovegro und structure response; (2) groundshock and belowground structure resp onse; (3) fragmentation effects; (4) projectile penetration; and (5) p rotective structure systems reliability. The scope of the structural r esponse research was limited to reinforced concrete structures; howeve r, the load uncertainty analyses are generally applicable to protectiv e structures of any material. The research also uncovered several area s of significant bias in the analysis methods, which could not be corr ected without changes to the fundamental approach in the PCDM. RBDFs w ere not developed for these cases; however, either specific ways to im prove the model prediction accuracy were recommended or improved model s were provided and demonstrated.