Rationalisation of safety and serviceability factors in structural codes

Suitable methods for the determination of partial factors for use in limit state structural codes were investigated. The safety formats adopted in many national codes and draft codes are reviewed, with a commentary on some of the difficulties met at present in evaluating partial safety factors. Safety provisions currently used in the design of aircraft, ships and structures for nuclear energy plants are discussed. A study has been made of various constraints which should be considered in code drafting. These include requirements for human safety, economic considerations, legal obligations, insurance requirements and statutory control. It has been concluded that statistical reliability theory has been sufficiently developed to provide a basis for calculating probabilities of attaining a limit state.