Extreme value analysis of structural loads in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abstract EN

This paper presents a probabilistic analysis of structural loads in Saudi Arabia.

The main objective is to develop load models and estimate their statistical characteristics for reliability and risk analysis associated with code development and computation of safety factors.

These loads include: dead, live, wind, and earthquake loads.

The results indicate that the dead load is normally distributed with mean-to-nominal ratio of 1.15 and coefficient of variation of 10 percent.

Extreme wind load is well presented by Type I extreme distribution, with mean-to-nominal ratio of 0.75 and coefficient of variation of 60 percent.

Extreme Earthquake load is well presented by Type II extreme distribution, with mean-to-nominal ratio of 0.70 and coefficient of variation of 137 percent.

Statistics for sustained and extreme live loads are adopted from previous international studies.

Results are compared with those obtained in similar international studies.