Reliability Analysis of Reinforced Concrete Beams Produced with Metakaolin

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the reliability of reinforced concrete beams produced with metakaolin as a supplementary cementitious material under provision of BS 8110 (1985: 1997) and BS 1881: Part 118: 1983,experimental design was adopted where representative statistics and appropriate probability distribution of basic resistance and load variables are obtained. The data obtained for compressive strength test, tensile strength of reinforcement, self-weight of beam, imposed load on beams, length, breadth, and height for reinforced concrete beams produced with 0%, 10%, 20% and 30% replacements of cement with metakaolin were fitted to five statistical distributions models. The distribution fitting was achieved with Kolmogorov-Smirnov test method using statistical computer package Easy-fit. The mean values of the variables, distribution models, and standard deviations obtained from this research were acceptable when compared with the values in the existing literature and found suitable for a running reliability analysis. FORTRAN programing language was used to develop subroutine and performance function equation for shear, bending and deflection of the beams. Prediction of structural performance based on target safety index of 3.7 and 4.7 according to the Joint Committee of Structural Safety JCSS (2001) was achieved.