A Guideline for Probability-Based Structural Design: Cornerstones and Principles

It is widely acknowledged that probability-based concepts are the logical basis for dealing with uncertainty and the basis for structural safety – the prime requirement of structural engineering. In structural engineering, design codes and standards provide a foundation for good engineering practice. The use of probabilistic methods in such codes and standards, which have been continuously evolving, is the result of several decades of structural reliability research alongside remarkable advances in computational capabilities. Albeit such progress and developments, the widespread adoption of probability-based approaches among structural engineering practitioners does not seem to have occurred yet. To bridge such gap and promote a wider acceptance of these approaches in structural design, the German Committee for Structural Concrete (DAfStb), together with multiple research partners, has been developing a guideline entitled „Procedure for the derivation of safety factors in concrete structures using probabilistic methods”. This two-part document covers the basics for time-invariant design considerations and guides the use of methods for deriving PSF when decoupling the load and resistance sides. This paper introduces the cornerstones and principles of this guideline and discusses to which extent this document can contribute to a broader acceptance of probability-based approaches. The adoption and dissemination of this guideline and its principles calls for a broader participation of the research and practising engineering communities. This discussion opens new avenues for future initiatives and developments in the field of structural reliability design.