Abstract
The application of the saddlepoint approximation to reliability analysis of dynamic systems is investigated. The failure event in reliability problems is formulated as the exceedance of a single performance variable over a prescribed threshold level. The saddlepoint approximation technique provides a choice to estimate the cumulative distribution function (CDF) of the performance variable. The failure probability is obtained as the value of the complement CDF at a specified threshold. The method requires computing the saddlepoint from a simple algebraic equation that depends on the cumulant generating function (CGF) of the performance variable. A method for calculating the saddlepoint using random samples of the performance variable is presented. The applicable region of the saddlepoint approximation is discussed in detail. A 10-story shear building model with white noise excitation illustrates the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed methodology.
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Supported by: Research Committee of University of Macau Under Grant No. G074/05-06S/YKV/FST UMAC.
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Yuen, KV., Wang, J. & Au, SK. Application of saddlepoint approximation in reliability analysis of dynamic systems. Earthq. Eng. Eng. Vib. 6, 391–400 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11803-007-0773-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11803-007-0773-8