Main Article Content
RELIABILITY ANALYSIS OF A TWO SPAN FLOOR DESIGNED ACCORDING TO EUROCODE 5
Abstract
This paper presents the structural reliability assessment of a two span timber floor of strength class D40 designed in accordance with Eurocode 5 (2004). The Structural analysis and design of the timber floor system was carried out using deterministic approach, considering both ultimate and serviceability limit states. Reliability analysis of the floor structural elements to ascertain its level of safety was carried out using first order reliability method (FORM) for the four modes of failure of bending shear, bearing and deflection. The reliability analysis involved investigation of the effects of variation of the applied dead to live load ratio and the cross sectional parameters of the floor. The results revealed that the deterministic design is satisfactory as limiting stresses and deflection were not exceeded. The primary floor joists had safety indices in shear and bending of 1.2 to 2.8 with decrease in dead to live load ratio and were below the recommended safety index of 3.8 specified in joint committee on structural safety (JCSS). The timber floor structural elements are more reliable in bearing, shear and deflection and critical in bending mode of failure. The section depth and span of floor elements are more sensitive in bending and deflection modes than shear and bearing modes.