Quantile-based sequential optimization and reliability assessment method under random and interval hybrid uncertainty

Under random and interval hybrid uncertainties, solving hybrid reliability based design optimization (HRBDO) can acquire an optimal balance between structural performance and reliability. Since solving HRBDO includes a triple nested framework involving minimum analysis of performance function (PF), failure probability constraint analysis and design parameter optimization, the computational complexity of HRBDO is high, especially for dealing with complex structures. Therefore, a quantile-based sequential optimization and reliability assessment method (QSORA) is proposed for reducing the computational complexity of HRBDO. In the proposed QSORA for HRBDO, failure probability constraint is firstly transformed into minimum PF (MPF) quantile one corresponding to target failure probability. Then, approximating the difference between PF and its target quantile at current iteration by that at previous one, the failure probability constraint analysis is decoupled from the design parameter optimization. Moreover, by approximating the minimum point of the PF with respect to the interval input in the current iteration by that in the previous one, the minimum analysis of PF is separated from the design parameter optimization. By the separation of minimum analysis and failure probability constraint analysis from the design parameter optimization in the proposed QSORA, the triple nested framework of HRBDO is decoupled sequentially as the deterministic design optimization, the minimum analysis of the PF and the target MPF quantile estimation, and this way of reconstructing the HRBDO from the triple nested framework to three single-loop frameworks can significantly enhance the efficiency of solving HRBDO. Furthermore, the MPF quantile at the current design parameter is estimated by stochastic collocation based statistical moment method, in which the stochastic collocation method is employed to efficiently estimate the MPF moment to approximate the probability density function of MPF. The efficiency and accuracy of the QSORA are validated by four numerical and engineering examples finally.