Promoting structural sustainable design through the influence of quality control assessments

Abstract

In structural reliability assessments, the selection of suitable parameters for the definition of stochastic models of component properties—such as concrete compressive strength, steel yield strength or geometric dimensions—is a prime requirement. Typically, during the production of structural components, several conformity control criteria, which are part of quality control assessments, are adopted to evaluate whether their properties comply with specified requirements. Previous investigations have demonstrated that the consideration of conformity control assessments in reliability studies might have a positive influence on the structural reliability of a component, thereby, enabling more material and resource efficient designs than conventional designs that do not take conformity control into account. In this investigation, a methodology grounded on the principles of reliability theory and Bayesian statistics is offered to quantify the positive effects of conformity control assessments in structural reliability levels. The practical application of this methodology is further demonstrated through an example extracted from previous investigations concerning the reliability level of a short concrete column subjected to compression. The results suggest that existing safety margins can be activated to adjust partial safety factors on the resistance side and, thus, optimise design solutions. Finally, possible improvements for the overall methodology are identified, opening avenues for the design of more sustainable structures.