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Article
Publication date: 31 August 2020

Bingqian Chen, Anqiang Wang, Qing Guo, Jiayin Dai and Yongshou Liu

This paper aims to solve the problem that pipes conveying fluid are faced with severe reliability failures under the complicated working environment.

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to solve the problem that pipes conveying fluid are faced with severe reliability failures under the complicated working environment.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper proposes a dynamic reliability and variance-based global sensitivity analysis (GSA) strategy with non-probabilistic convex model for pipes conveying fluid based on the first passage principle failure mechanism. To illustrate the influence of input uncertainty on output uncertainty of non-probability, the main index and the total index of variance-based GSA analysis are used. Furthermore, considering the efficiency of traditional simulation method, an active learning Kriging surrogate model is introduced to estimate the dynamic reliability and GSA indices of the structure system under random vibration.

Findings

The variance-based GSA analysis can measure the effect of input variables of convex model on the dynamic reliability, which provides useful reference and guidance for the design and optimization of pipes conveying fluid. For designers, the rankings and values of main and total indices have essential guiding role in engineering practice.

Originality/value

The effectiveness of the proposed method to calculate the dynamic reliability and sensitivity of pipes conveying fluid while ensuring the calculation accuracy and efficiency in the meantime.

Details

Engineering Computations, vol. 38 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-4401

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 24 August 2019

Yangtian Li, Haibin Li and Guangmei Wei

To present the models with many model parameters by polynomial chaos expansion (PCE), and improve the accuracy, this paper aims to present dimension-adaptive algorithm-based PCE…

Abstract

Purpose

To present the models with many model parameters by polynomial chaos expansion (PCE), and improve the accuracy, this paper aims to present dimension-adaptive algorithm-based PCE technique and verify the feasibility of the proposed method through taking solid rocket motor ignition under low temperature as an example.

Design/methodology/approach

The main approaches of this work are as follows: presenting a two-step dimension-adaptive algorithm; through computing the PCE coefficients using dimension-adaptive algorithm, improving the accuracy of PCE surrogate model obtained; and applying the proposed method to uncertainty quantification (UQ) of solid rocket motor ignition under low temperature to verify the feasibility of the proposed method.

Findings

The result indicates that by means of comparing with some conventional non-invasive method, the proposed method is able to raise the computational accuracy significantly on condition of meeting the efficiency requirement.

Originality/value

This paper proposes an approach in which the optimal non-uniform grid that can avoid the issue of overfitting or underfitting is obtained.

Article
Publication date: 18 January 2022

Chunxiao Zhang, Xinwang Li, Xiaona Liu, Qiang Li and Yizhou Bai

The purpose of this paper is to focus on an optimizing maintenance policy with repair limit time for a new type of aircraft component, in which the lifetime is assumed to be an…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to focus on an optimizing maintenance policy with repair limit time for a new type of aircraft component, in which the lifetime is assumed to be an uncertain variable due to no historical operation data, and the repair time is a random variable that can be described by the experimental data.

Design/methodology/approach

To describe this repair limit time policy over an infinite time horizon, an extended uncertain random renewal reward theorem is firstly proposed based on chance theory, involves uncertain random interarrival times and stochastic rewards. Accordingly, the uncertain random programming model, which minimized the expected maintenance cost rate, is formulated to find the optimal repair limit time.

Findings

A numerical example with sensitivity analysis is provided to illustrate the utility of the proposed policy. It provides a useful reference and guidance for aircraft optimization. For maintainers, it plays an important guiding role in engineering practice.

Originality/value

The proposed uncertain random renewal reward process proved useful for the optimization of maintenance strategy with maintenance limited time for a new type of aircraft components, which provides scientific support for aircraft maintenance decision-making for civil aviation enterprises.

Details

Engineering Computations, vol. 39 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-4401

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 10 May 2019

Marzieh Jafari and Khaled Akbari

This paper aims to measure the sensitivity of the structure’s deformation numerical model (NM) related to the various types of the design parameters, which is a suitable method…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to measure the sensitivity of the structure’s deformation numerical model (NM) related to the various types of the design parameters, which is a suitable method for parameter selection to increase the time of model-updating.

Design/methodology/approach

In this research, a variance-based sensitivity analysis (VBSA) approach is proposed to measure the sensitivity of NM of structures. In this way, the contribution of measurements of the structure (such as design parameter values and geometry) on the output of NM is studied using first-order and total-order sensitivity indices developed by Sobol’. In this way the generated data set of parameters by considering different distributions such as Gaussian or uniform distribution and different order as input along with, the resulted deformation variables of NM as output has been submitted to the Sobol’ indices estimation procedure. To the verification of VBSA results, a gradient-based sensitivity analysis (SA), which is developed as a global SA method has been developed to measure the global sensitivity of NM then implemented over the NM’s results of a tunnel.

Findings

Regarding the estimated indices, it has been concluded that the derived deformation functions from the tunnel’s NM usually are non-additive. Also, some parameters have been determined as most effective on the deformation functions, which can be selected for model-updating to avoid a time-consuming process, so those may better to be considered in the group of updating parameters. In this procedure for SA of the model, also some interactions between the selected parameters with other parameters, which are beneficial to be considered in the model-updating procedure, have been detected. In this study, some parameters approximately (27 per cent of the total) with no effect over the all objective functions have been determined to be excluded from the parameter candidates for model-updating. Also, the resulted indices of implemented VBSA were approved during validation by the gradient-based indices.

Practical implications

The introduced method has been implemented for a circular lined tunnel’s NM, which has been created by Fast Lagrangian Analysis of Continua software.

Originality/value

This paper plans to apply a statistical method, which is global on the results of the NM of a soil structure by a complex system for parameter selection to avoid the time-consuming model-updating process.

Article
Publication date: 22 April 2022

Chunping Zhou, Zhuangke Shi and Changcong Zhou

Global sensitivity can measure the influence of input variables on model responses and is of positive significance for the improvement design of structural systems. This work aims…

Abstract

Purpose

Global sensitivity can measure the influence of input variables on model responses and is of positive significance for the improvement design of structural systems. This work aims to study the global sensitivity of structural models by combining the active subspace theory and neural network.

Design/methodology/approach

This study aims to improve the efficiency of global sensitivity analysis for high-dimensional structural systems, a novel method based on active subspace and surrogate model is proposed. Active subspace can reduce the dimension of input variables, and an adaptive scaling strategy is proposed to improve the accuracy in finding the active subspace. The uncertainty propagation of active variables and model response is performed through the artificial neural network. Then the global sensitivity analysis is carried out.

Findings

Several examples are studied by using the Monte Carlo simulation method and the proposed method. Comparison of the results shows that the proposed method has preferable accuracy and low computational cost.

Originality/value

The proposed method provides a practicable tool for the variance-based sensitivity analysis of structural systems. Apart from sensitivity analysis, the method can be also extended for use in other fields relating to uncertainty propagation.

Details

Multidiscipline Modeling in Materials and Structures, vol. 18 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1573-6105

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 31 July 2019

Enying Li, Zheng Zhou, Hu Wang and Kang Cai

This study aims to suggest and develops a global sensitivity analysis-assisted multi-level sequential optimization method for the heat transfer problem.

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to suggest and develops a global sensitivity analysis-assisted multi-level sequential optimization method for the heat transfer problem.

Design/methodology/approach

Compared with other surrogate-assisted optimization methods, the distinctive characteristic of the suggested method is to decompose the original problem into several layers according to the global sensitivity index. The optimization starts with the several most important design variables by the support vector regression-based efficient global optimization method. Then, when the optimization process progresses, the filtered design variables should be involved in optimization one by one or the setting value. Therefore, in each layer, the design space should be reduced according to the previous optimization result. To improve the accuracy of the global sensitivity index, a novel global sensitivity analysis method based on the variance-based method incorporating a random sampling high-dimensional model representation is introduced.

Findings

The advantage of this method lies in its capability to solve complicated problems with a limited number of sample points. Moreover, to enhance the reliability of optimum, the support vector regression-based global efficient optimization is used to optimize in each layer.

Practical implications

The developed optimization tool is built by MATLAB and can be integrated by commercial software, such as ABAQUS and COMSOL. Lastly, this tool is integrated with COMSOL and applied to the plant-fin heat sink design. Compared with the initial temperature, the temperature after design is over 49°. Moreover, the relationships among all design variables are also disclosed clearly.

Originality/value

The D-MORPH-HDMR is integrated to obtain the coupling relativities among the design variables efficiently. The suggested method can be decomposed into multiplier layers according to the GSI. The SVR-EGO is used to optimize the sub-problem because of its robustness of modeling.

Details

Engineering Computations, vol. 37 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-4401

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 22 April 2024

Ghada Karaki, Rami A. Hawileh and M.Z. Naser

This study examines the effect of temperature-dependent material models for normal-strength (NSC) and high-strength concrete (HSC) on the thermal analysis of reinforced concrete…

Abstract

Purpose

This study examines the effect of temperature-dependent material models for normal-strength (NSC) and high-strength concrete (HSC) on the thermal analysis of reinforced concrete (RC) walls.

Design/methodology/approach

The study performs an one-at-a-time (OAT) sensitivity analysis to assess the impact of variables defining the constitutive and parametric fire models on the wall's thermal response. Moreover, it extends the sensitivity analysis to a variance-based analysis to assess the effect of constitutive model type, fire model type and constitutive model uncertainty on the RC wall's thermal response variance. The study determines the wall’s thermal behaviour reliability considering the different constitutive models and their uncertainty.

Findings

It is found that the impact of the variability in concrete’s conductivity is determined by its temperature-dependent model, which differs for NSC and HSC. Therefore, more testing and improving material modelling are needed. Furthermore, the heating rate of the fire scenario is the dominant factor in deciding fire-resistance performance because it is a causal factor for spalling in HSC walls. And finally the reliability of wall's performance decreased sharply for HSC walls due to the expected spalling of the concrete and loss of cross-section integrity.

Originality/value

Limited studies in the current open literature quantified the impact of constitutive models on the behaviour of RC walls. No studies have examined the effect of material models' uncertainty on wall’s response reliability under fire. Furthermore, the study's results contribute to the ongoing attempts to shape performance-based structural fire engineering.

Details

Journal of Structural Fire Engineering, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2040-2317

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 2 May 2024

Xin Fan, Yongshou Liu, Zongyi Gu and Qin Yao

Ensuring the safety of structures is important. However, when a structure possesses both an implicit performance function and an extremely small failure probability, traditional…

Abstract

Purpose

Ensuring the safety of structures is important. However, when a structure possesses both an implicit performance function and an extremely small failure probability, traditional methods struggle to conduct a reliability analysis. Therefore, this paper proposes a reliability analysis method aimed at enhancing the efficiency of rare event analysis, using the widely recognized Relevant Vector Machine (RVM).

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing from the principles of importance sampling (IS), this paper employs Harris Hawks Optimization (HHO) to ascertain the optimal design point. This approach not only guarantees precision but also facilitates the RVM in approximating the limit state surface. When the U learning function, designed for Kriging, is applied to RVM, it results in sample clustering in the design of experiment (DoE). Therefore, this paper proposes a FU learning function, which is more suitable for RVM.

Findings

Three numerical examples and two engineering problem demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Originality/value

By employing the HHO algorithm, this paper innovatively applies RVM in IS reliability analysis, proposing a novel method termed RVM-HIS. The RVM-HIS demonstrates exceptional computational efficiency, making it eminently suitable for rare events reliability analysis with implicit performance function. Moreover, the computational efficiency of RVM-HIS has been significantly enhanced through the improvement of the U learning function.

Details

Engineering Computations, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-4401

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 11 September 2020

Yidu Zhang, Yongshou Liu and Qing Guo

This paper aims to develop a method for evaluating the failure probability and global sensitivity of multiple failure modes based on convex-probability hybrid uncertainty.

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to develop a method for evaluating the failure probability and global sensitivity of multiple failure modes based on convex-probability hybrid uncertainty.

Design/methodology/approach

The uncertainty information of the input variable is considered as convex-probability hybrid uncertainty. Moment-independent variable global sensitivity index based on the system failure probability is proposed to quantify the effect of the input variable on the system failure probability. Two-mode sensitivity indices are adopted to characterize the effect of each failure mode on the system failure probability. The method based on active learning Kriging (ALK) model with a truncated candidate regions (TCR) is adopted to evaluate the systems failure probability, as well as sensitivity index and this method is termed as ALK-TCR.

Findings

The results of five examples demonstrate the effectiveness of the sensitivity index and the efficiency of the ALK-TCR method in solving the problem of multiple failure modes based on the convex-probability hybrid uncertainty.

Originality/value

Convex-probability hybrid uncertainty is considered on system reliability analysis. Moment-independent variable sensitivity index based on the system failure probability is proposed. Mode sensitivity indices are extended to hybrid uncertain reliability model. An effective global sensitivity analysis approach is developed for the multiple failure modes based on convex-probability hybrid uncertainty.

Article
Publication date: 11 November 2013

Pietro Marco Congedo, Gianluca Geraci, Rémi Abgrall, Valentino Pediroda and Lucia Parussini

– This paper aims to deal with an efficient strategy for robust optimization when a large number of uncertainties are taken into account.

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to deal with an efficient strategy for robust optimization when a large number of uncertainties are taken into account.

Design/methodology/approach

ANOVA analysis is used in order to perform a variance-based decomposition and to reduce stochastic dimension based on an appropriate criterion. A massive use of metamodels allows reconstructing response surfaces for sensitivity indexes in the design variables plan. To validate the proposed approach, a simplified configuration, an inverse problem on a 1D nozzle flow, is solved and the performances compared to an exact Monte Carlo reference solution. Then, the same approach is applied to the robust optimization of a turbine cascade for thermodynamically complex flows.

Findings

First, when the stochastic dimension is reduced, the error on the variance between the reduced and the complete problem was found to be roughly estimated by the quantity (1− TSI )×100, where TSI is the summation of TSI concerning the variables respecting the TSI criterion. Second, the proposed strategy allowed obtaining a converged Pareto front with a strong reduction of computational cost by preserving the same accuracy.

Originality/value

Several articles exist in literature concerning robust optimization but very few dealing with a global approach for solving optimization problem affected by a large number of uncertainties. Here, a practical and efficient approach is proposed that could be applied also to realistic problems in engineering field.

Details

Engineering Computations, vol. 30 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-4401

Keywords

1 – 10 of 756