A new study on reliability-based design optimization

This paper presents a general approach for probabilistic constraint evaluat ion in the reliability-based design optimization (RBDO). Different perspect ives of the general approach are consistent in prescribing the probabilisti c constraint, where the conventional reliability index approach (RIA) and t he proposed performance measure approach (PMA) are identified as two specia l cases. PMA is shown to be inherently robust and more efficient in evaluat ing inactive probabilistic constraints, while RIA is more efficient for vio lated probabilistic constraints. Moreover, REDO often yields a higher rate of convergence by using PMA, while RIA yields singularity in some cases.