Bayesian Network Enhanced with Structural Reliability Methods: Application

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the application of an enhanced Bayesian network (eBN) methodology to assess reliability, optimize measurements, and evaluate risks in engineering systems over their lifecycle, especially under natural hazards and deterioration.

Contribution

It applies the eBN approach to real-world engineering problems, integrating time-evolving information for improved reliability and risk assessment.

Findings

Effective updating of probabilistic models with new observations

Improved reliability assessment over the system's life cycle

Enhanced decision-making for measurements and risk management

Abstract

The enhanced Bayesian network (eBN) methodology described in the companion paper facilitates the assessment of reliability and risk of engineering systems when information about the system evolves in time. We present the application of the eBN (a) to the assessment of the life-cycle reliability of a structural system, (b) to the optimization of a decision on performing measurements in that structural system, and (c) to the risk assessment of an infrastructure system subject to natural hazards and deterioration of constituent structures. In all applications, observations of system performances or the hazards are made at various points in time and the eBN efficiently includes these observations in the analysis to provide an updated probabilistic model of the system at all times.