Reliability Based Resistance Factor Determination for Bored Piles

Uncertainties related to soil parameters; its testing methods and design processes can be logically quantified through probabilistic means. As the past experiences shows that other approaches like observational method is not suitable as design carried over conservative values of loads and properties of the material is not fulfilling the requirement of all geotechnical structures. To counter the uncertainties Reliability based design is preferable as it gives clear understanding about the probability of failure.
Calibration of resistance factors or code calibration is another major issue; use of LRFD will only be successful if reliability theory has to be involved in the calibration of resistance factors, rather than fitting methods.
This paper gives a clear guideline of dominating testing methods and design processes used in Malaysian region. These techniques and design methods works with common Geotechnical structures. Survey results furnish an idea which becomes useful in determination of reliability index and resistance factors.
Statistical methods FOSM, AFOSM used to compute the beta values and resistance factors. Comparison in terms of sensitivity analysis has also been performed. As the most dominant is bore pile so in this document this structure is used for the reliability analysis. Cases of four Kuala Lumpur sites have been taken as a sample to get statistical data.
Although the resistance factors developed is not valid for every situation but at least conservative concept is developed in connection with bore piles structure.