Reliability-Based Design & Design Optimization

Direct Reliability-based Design (d-RBD®) is not about rolling the dice on a design. It is about virtual rolling of the dice countless times and analyzing the results of those bets. This means performing an analysis countless times using parameter values generated randomly in accordance with our assessment of their uncertainties as defined by their probability distribution functions. The analysis of the results of those countless simulations tells us a lot about the uncertainty in (or the reliability of) the design. d-RBD® is a process that is trademarked by Civil Renewables, Inc. Learn more about it below.

When d-RBD and Monte Carlo simulations look like a sledgehammer being used to swat a fly, we can employ the First Order Reliability Method (FORM) as an efficient approach to get us ballpark reliability-based results quickly. Ballpark means better results than those obtained through the classical, code-based factor of safety approaches. Quickly means a click on a spreadsheet or a MathCAD button. Write to us below to see how this approach can be used to design or value engineer the structures or foundations on your project.

The First Order Second Moment (FOSM) method involves an additional derivation compared to FORM but that step is rewarded with with improved accuracy. Additionally, FOSM retains the practical and convenient aspects of FORM, i.e., similar to FORM, a spreadsheet or a computer calculation tool is all that is needed to get an instantaneous result. Consult with us below to see how this approach can be used to design or value engineer the structures or foundations on your project.