Blast reliability assessment and sensitivity analysis of steel MRFs equipped with NiTi SMA bolts

The probabilistic-based assessment of Moment Resisting Frame structure (MRFs) is significantly vital due to the high volatility of blast wave propagation parameters, material strength, and strain rate effect. In this study, the reliability and sensitivity of steel MRFs equipped with Nickel Titanium Shape Memory Alloy (NiTi SMA), and smart MRFs, subjected to Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) are assessed. Since Eurocode does not address the design of a smart structure subjected to blast loading, the smart MRFs are designed based on the Eurocode-complying key design procedures proposed by the author's previous works. It is always a question if the structure designed based on the proposed Eurocode-complying design methodology satisfies the safety level criteria. The newly developed reliability framework approach by the authors is employed to assess the safety level of the smart MRFs based on the criteria given in the international probabilistic design provisions. Performance functions are parameterized based on three failure modes: axial force and bending moments (global buckling) in the columns, maximum rotation demand at the connections, and system-level structural integrity through Inter-Story Drift Ratio (ISDR). The uncertainties of the charge weight, material strength, gravity loads, model uncertainties, connection behavior parameters, strain rate effects, and column cross-sectional dimensions are considered. The proposed reliability framework is applied to the 4-story, 7-story, 10-story, and 15-story smart MRFs. The results show that the developed smart MRFs satisfy the safety level criteria recommended in the international provisions' probabilistic design requirement. Furthermore, the reliability-based outcome confirms the efficiency and applicability of the proposed Eurocode complying key design procedures and verifies the deterministic results of the smart MRFs. Finally, the sensitivity of the smart structures to various uncertain parameters is investigated. Among all the parameters, it is found that the Reliability Index (β) of the smart MRFs is more sensitive to the uncertainties of charge weight, column web length(s), connection behavior parameters, and material strength. The sensitivity analysis shows that the smart MRFs are safe under unknown extreme conditions, a very high Coefficient of Variation (COV).