Probabilistic engineering analysis using the NESSUS software

The development of reliability-based design methods requires the use of general-purpose engineering analysis tools that predict the uncertainty in a response due to uncertainties in the model formulation and input parameters. Barriers that have prevented the full acceptance of probabilistic analysis methods in the engineering design community include availability of tools, ease of use, robust and accurate probabilistic analysis methods, and the ability to perform probabilistic analyses for large-scale problems. The goal of the reported work has been to develop a software tool that fully addresses these three aspects (availability, robustness and efficiency) to enable the designer to efficiently and accurately account for uncertainties as they might affect structural reliability and risk assessment. The paper discusses the NESSUS probabilistic engineering analysis software with specific sections on the reliability modeling and analysis process in NESSUS, the robust and accurate solution strategies incorporated in the available probabilistic analysis methods, and several application examples to demonstrate the applicability of probabilistic analysis to large-scale engineering problems.