Direct Reliability-Based Design (d-RBD®)

Direct Reliability-based Design (d-RBD®) may sound futuristic or may be perceived as an activity that is reserved for design code calibration gurus. However, with the abundance and power of computing tools available nowadays, there is no reason why measured/targeted reliability cannot be incorporated directly into the design process instead of using rigid and possibly non-applicable partial safety factors on loads and/or resistance. When d-RBD® is used, the designer's attention is focused on what matters most, i.e., on assessing and reducing uncertainty that is specific to the project at hand.

d-RBD® lends itself perfectly to renewable energy installations where design life and performance criteria are quite different from those of building structures and critical infrastructure which are the primary focus of building codes. d-RBD® is also the natural tool for implementing Performance-Based Design (PBD). The merits of the d-RBD® methodology are detailed and illustrated in J. Ben-Hassine's 2018 PhD thesis titled "Direct Reliability-Based Design (d-RBD) of Shallow Wind Turbine Foundations." Check out the dissertation abstract here. You can also download the full dissertation here.

Using d-RBD®, it is possible to design engineering products, provide engineering design services, design structures and foundations, consult in the field of design and development of engineering processes and offer structural engineering design services.

At Civil Renewables, Inc., we provide consulting services where we employ the d-RBD® design methodology to:

• Identify value-engineering opportunities,

• Implement Performance-based Design approaches,

• Design engineering products,

• Design civil engineering structures and foundations, and

• Use d-RBD® as a forensics tools.

As of December 12, 2023, d-RBD® is a registered trademark with USPTO under No. 7,238,736. If you believe this methodology could benefit your project(s), please feel free to book a consultation.