A simple Monte Carlo simulation method for geotechnical reliability-based design

This paper proposes a simple reliability-based design approach from a quantile value perspective. The proposed approach allows the design variable to be efficiently determined without implementing repetitive "trial and error" procedures for a given target reliability index. Only a single run of Monte Carlo simulation is needed to calculate the threshold values of the design variable after the design variable function (DVF) is derived from the limit state function. The threshold values are then sorted in ascending order, and a quantile value is chosen as the desired design variable such that MCS samples with threshold values larger, or smaller than this value are undesired samples. Three illustrative examples are presented following the development of the proposed method and its implementation procedure. Results are validated by calculating the failure probabilities of desired designs using direct MCS, and they are also favorably comparable with those reported in literature. This method can play a complementary role to existing RBD methods due to its advantages of simplicity, efficiency, and robustness.