An adaptive reliability estimation technique for three-dimensional trusses
used in space exploration applications is proposed. Both component-level an
d system-level reliability issues are addressed. For individual member-leve
l performance criteria, efficient analytical methods are implemented for re
liability estimation. Multiple potential failure paths are considered for s
ystem-level performance, and a hybrid adaptive sampling technique is propos
ed by combining the best features of analytical and sampling methods. A sig
nificant failure path is enumerated using analytical reliability estimation
and branch and bound search. An adaptive importance sampling method is use
d to identify other significant failure paths. The proposed methodology is
illustrated for application to a simplified solar array support truss, usin
g a commercial finite element code.