System reliability-based optimization of redundant timber trusses

The Reliability-Based Design Optimization (RBDO) of redundant structures requires special care, as design and random variables are strongly interdependent which requires a global approach. Under the consideration of rigid joint connections, the RBDO is applied to timber trusses by taking into account the system effect, especially the load redistribution. The design parameters are given by cross-sectional areas and joint coordinates and the random variables are the timber properties and the loading actions. The proposed procedure is based on a relaxation algorithm combined with oriented response surface.