Seismic Design: Benefit/Cost for Overall Service Time Versus Per Unit Service Time

Abstract eng:
The maximum expected monetary benefit or minimum expected cost rule are often adopted in assessing the optimal seismic design levels for structures under infrequent large earthquakes. Use of the obtained optimal design levels for structural designs ensures the most economic use of the resources and the maximum profit. It is noted that in such an assessment the monetary benefit or cost functions are frequently established by considering the overall benefit or lifecycle cost at present value for a given structural design life. Yet, the selection of the structural design life is somewhat arbitrary, and in many cases one is interested in maximizing the structural service time or the benefit per dollar spent. The consideration of the benefit (or cost) at present value per lifecycle or per unit service time may lead to different optimal design levels for a given planning time horizon. The difference between the obtained optimal design levels by considering the former and the latter are investigated. Analyses are carried out for structures located in Mexico City under seismic loading with earthquake occurrence modeled as a Poisson or non-Poisson process. The implication of the results for the codified designs is discussed.

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