NDLI: Robust Engineering Design for Failure Prevention

Content Provider	The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Digital Collection
Author	Jeffrey, T. Fong James, J. Filliben Heckert, N. Alan Dewit, Roland Bernstein, Barry
Copyright Year	2008
Abstract	To advance the state of the art of engineering design, we introduce a new concept on the “robustness” of a structure by measuring its ability to sustain a sudden loss of a part without causing an immediate collapse. The concept is based on the premise that most structures have built-in redundancy such that when the loss of a single part leads to a load redistribution, the “crippled” structure tends to seek a new stability configuration without immediate collapse. This property of a “robust” structure, when coupled with a continuous or periodic inspection program using nondestructive evaluation (NDE) techniques, is useful in failure prevention, because such structure is expected to display “measurable” signs of “weakening” long before the onset of catastrophic failure. To quantify this “robustness” concept, we use a large number of simulations to develop a metric to be named the “Robustness Index (RBI).” To illustrate its application, we present two examples: (1) the design of a simple square grillage in support of a water tank, and (2) a classroom model of a 3-span double-Pratt-truss bridge. The first example is a “toy” problem, which turned out to be a good vehicle to test the feasibility of the RBI concept. The second example is taken from a textbook in bridge design (Tall, L., Structural Steel Bridge, 2nd ed., page 99, Fig. 4.3(b), Ronald Press, New York NY, 1974). It is not a case study for failure analysis, but a useful classroom exercise in an engineering design course. Significance and limitations of this new approach to catastrophic failure avoidance through “robust” design, are discussed.
Sponsorship	Pressure Vessels and Piping
Starting Page	1537
Ending Page	1564
Page Count	28
File Format	PDF
ISBN	9780791848296
DOI	10.1115/PVP2008-61602
e-ISBN	0791838285
Volume Number	Volume 6: Materials and Fabrication, Parts A and B
Conference Proceedings	ASME 2008 Pressure Vessels and Piping Conference
Language	English
Publisher Date	2008-07-27
Publisher Place	Chicago, Illinois, USA
Access Restriction	Subscribed
Subject Keyword	Statistical data analysis Sensitivity analysis Bridge design Structural robustness analysis Robustness metric Aging structures Engineering safety Nde monitoring Finite element method Robustness index Applied mechanics Rbi Design of experiments Uncertainty analysis Analysis of variance Error propagation Robust design Water Bridges (structures) Finite element methods Vehicles Design Nondestructive evaluation Engineering mechanics Failure analysis Robustness Engineering simulation Safety Failure Trusses (building) Collapse Stability Inspection Stress Engineering design Errors Simulation Experimental design Structural steel Redundancy (engineering)
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article

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