Novel evaluation methodology for mechanical behaviour and instability risk of roof structure using limited investigation data.

How to use limited investigation data to analyse the failure of roof engineering is a challenging problem. In this paper, a novel risk analysis method for the mechanical structure of a roof is proposed. Firstly, the Copula theory is presented and the construction method of multidimensional Gaussian Copula parameters is given. Secondly, a Copula method of the mechanical characteristics and instability risk of roof structure with E, ν, c and φ as uncertain variables is proposed. Thirdly, based on the investigation data of 192 roof groups in China, the influence of Copula mechanical parameters on the failure probability of the roof structure is analysed and discussed. This new evaluation methodology can use various Copula functions to simulate the positive and negative correlation structures, which provides an effective way to clarify the mechanical characteristics and instability risk of roof structure using limited investigation data. The results show that the mechanical failure of the roof structure is mainly at the bottom. As the correlation of mechanical parameters increases, the failure probability of the mechanical structure decreases significantly. In the simulation of positive and negative correlation parameters, Gaussian Copula and No.16 Copula, respectively, make the roof have the smallest failure probability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]