Abstract
In designing new type of structures, it is very difficult to evaluate the safety factors due to lack of previous design data and operational experiences. To solve the above mentioned problem, much attention is being focussed on rational reliability-based design approaches.
This paper deals with Weight-Optimal Reliability-Based Design (WORBD) of stiffened plates subjected to structural reliability constraints taking into account of the effect of local buckling and interactive behavior between local and global buckling.
Present method is compared with the existing optimal design method based only on safety factors. Numerical simulation reveals that the present method leads to lighter structure (4% reduction in weight compared to the existing optimal design) with the same reliability index. For larger structures (eg. ship structures) with more number of structural members and possible failure modes, the present WORBD procedure will be an efficient tool in designing cost-effective rationalized economic design.
