Failure probability prediction of concrete components

In order to predict the probability of failure for brittle fracture of concrete components under multiaxial stress states, the imperfections of concrete components are modeled as cracks with different shapes in this paper. A new probability distribution function for evaluating the failure probability of concrete components is proposed. A simplified measurement method for determining the parameters of the governing Weibull distribution, using the three-point bending test, is presented and discussed. The experimental results of the combined bending/torsion failure tests of concrete components verify that the proposed crack model is more reasonable than the Batdorf's crack model and the proposed prediction formula can evaluate the failure probability of concrete components accurately. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.