Structural reliability of pre-stressed concrete containments

The sensitivity of the probability of failure to the assumed coefficients of variation of properties of the containment was studied using the Sobol and Total Sensitivity Indices. At design pressure it was found that the coefficients of variation of the tendon yield and tendon area are the most important parameters followed by the applied pressure and containment radius. At higher pressures it was found that the coefficients of variation of the applied pressure and containment radius are the most important parameters. The variability of the probability of failure is decreased at higher pressures, but the coefficients of variation still play an important role.