• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.167-178
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• 2009

Initial imperfections, such as initial deflection or remaining stress, cause deterioration of buckling strength of structures. The Koiter imperfection sensitivity law has been extended to describe the mechanism of reduction for structures. The extension is twofold: (1) a number of imperfections are considered, and (2) the second order (minor) imperfections are implemented, in addition to the first order (major) imperfections considered in the Koiter law. Yet, in reality, the variation of external loads is dominant over that of imperfection. In this research, probabilistic evaluation of buckling loads against external loads subjected to probabilistic variation is conducted by extending the concept of imperfection sensitivity. A truss arch subjected to dead and live loads is considered as a numerical example. The mechanism of probabilistic variation of buckling strength of this arch is described by the proposed method, and its reliability is evaluated.