In today’s world, the advent of bigger and higher building structures has pushed the limits of engineered lifts. A single heavy payload is preferable to many small loads. This practice cuts down on lead time, infrastructure and manpower to finish the job. This is where high-performance synthetic rope solutions are needed. Light weight yet high-strength fiber provides faster and safer rigging. These lifting operations require rigorous design and analysis to determine the ideal application parameters for the lift planning process... Simply, it can be a headache. Samson engineers, backed by historical big data and testing capabilities, have managed to simplify the process of finding the right sling in the most efficient way. Using proprietary technology, the time of choosing any rope size from available inventory to build that hi-capacity sling has come. The system is built to offer multiple options through its smart multi-loop sling configurator. Current capability includes building slings with rope ranging in size from 16 to 168mm, to a maximum number of 8 loops — which translates to the possibility of reaching up to 4,000mT maximum break strength on a short length of 3 meters. Smaller bend radius ratio is also possible because the system interacts with individual ropes, while working as a system. The use of a mechanical splice also allows for tighter length tolerances. Having this breakthrough at the tip of your fingers will set you apart.

The low velocity impact (LVI) result of laminated targets is an imperative study to evaluate its failure for applications to inconsequential structures. The work has extensive applications to off shore and naval industry. Safety and reliability assessment as per the international standards is one of the basic objectives of the study. LVI on composite plates is performed taking the material parameters and loading condition as random variables. Graphite fiber reinforced laminated plates are vulnerable to damage due to impact by foreign objects and in plane loading. In order to evaluate the safe load carrying capacity and the reliability under impact, dynamic analysis of composite plate subjected to LVI is carried out. Probabilistic finite element method (PFEM) is performed to determine the stochastic response. During impact, the in-plane damage modes such as matrix cracking, fiber failure and shear cracking are modeled using a failure criterion. The out of plane de-lamination is modeled using cohesive surfaces. The randomness associated with the system properties due to the inherent scatter in the geometric and material properties and input loads are modeled in a stochastic fashion. Random parameters represent various characteristics appearing in the performance function. The stochastic response and reliability forecast of the system is determined by Gaussian processes response surface method (GPRSM) and validity of method for the present problem is establish using Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) procedure. The safety level qualification is achieved in terms of reliability level targeted.

The load-elongation properties of polyester ropes are often modelled through a static-dynamic model with parameters based on different proposed test procedures, which may not be sufficient for the mooring analysis since the stretch response to tension of fiber ropes is nonlinear. In the Syrope Joint Industry Project, a new procedure for tension vs. stretch testing of polyester ropes for mooring applications was developed. The test allows for determining parameters in a rope model, which was developed in the JIP, where the length and dynamic stiffness of the rope are given by the actual mean tension and the previous highest mean tension in each mooring line. Test results from this new procedure have been compared with results from the test procedures provided in API, ABS and ISO documents. All tests were performed on samples from the same sub-rope. Differences and similarities between the different test procedures and analysis methods have been investigated.

Unbonded flexible pipes present a mature technology for the efficient recovery and transport of hydrocarbons offshore. The substitution of metallic reinforcement layers in the multi-layered structure by thermoplastic fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) presents a solution for self-weight issues of especially long pipes, as FRP materials display high specific strength and modulus while being resistant to external pressure and corrosion. The production of these layers is automated by the laser-assisted tape winding process without the need of additional curing steps. During the manufacturing process, several data like process temperature and consolidation pressure are continuously monitored by non-contact sensors to ensure process stability without interfering in the consolidation process. To gain additional information about the temperature distribution within the multi-layered laminate, contact temperature sensors were introduced in the tape winding process. By this method the temperature of subjacent tapes can be assessed during the continued winding process. Additionally, this paper features a new approach of utilizing winding path data for relating the time-dependent sensor data to the exact position on the produced part. The visualization of path-dependent sensor data opens up possibilities of linking quality monitoring results to manufacturing insufficiencies and potential part defects.

Subsea production control systems are instrumented to constantly monitor flowline pressure and temperature at key locations to prevent plugging and introduce mitigating control strategies. New fiber optic sensors with ruggedized construction and non-electrical components are subjected to accelerated aging tests and deployed in several installations with long service life. An overview of current progress with fiber optic technology is provided for fatigue monitoring, temperature, pressure, and strain sensing. Recent developments include improved service life, novel bonding methods, pipeline sensor station improvements, sensor calibration, and long-term fatigue analysis. The latest advancements are validated on multiple installations on a subsea tieback in the deepwater Mississippi Canyon of the Gulf of Mexico at 6,500 ft depth. A prior third-party sensor design experienced multiple non-recoverable sensor failures. A new sensor station design is employed on two Flowline Terminations to monitor pressure and temperature at a rate of 100 Hz. Subsea tiebacks are susceptible to flow assurance issues caused by plugging events such as hydrate formation. The system was originally designed to track pig location but transitioned to pressure and temperature sensing. An issue with the transition was the lack of calibration relating the fiber Bragg grating (FBG) strain levels to the actual process conditions. A novel method is presented for in situ adjustment of the sensor array calibration. During the calibration procedure, the sensors produced unanticipated results during pipeline flow shut-in and later startup operations. The sensors helped uncover a configuration of the flowline and sensor locations that is valuable for detecting hydrate forming conditions at a key junction location. The sensors are located before and after the junction of two flowlines in the mixing zone of the pipeline streams. The novel contributions of this study are the high speed data collection, in situ fiber optic calibration, review of advancements in fiber optic sensing technology, and a field case study with multiple sensing arrays. The developments are part of the Clear Gulf study, a collaboration between the offshore energy industry and NASA that was formed in 2010. The objective of the Clear Gulf study is to employ space technology and testing facilities for use in the up-stream industry to advance subsea sensor technology. The highly sensitive monitoring systems developed as part of this study are used to give early warnings for flow assurance issues, structural failures, or catastrophic events.

Steel tube umbilical designs are becoming more complex and are being deployed in increasingly severe environments. Umbilical designs can now accommodate up to 3-inch diameter steel tubes for chemical and hydraulic injection, up to four layers of armoring, multiple electrical cables and fiber optic lines. Large power transmission cables are also being incorporated in umbilical constructions. This is leading to ever increasing umbilical mass, radial loads, pressure loads and increased demands on the designer to demonstrate adequate fatigue capacity. A method has been developed for predicting the fatigue response of deepwater umbilicals, particularly for umbilicals subject to high tension and bending loads. The method involves predicting cyclic stress in the umbilical components (steel tubes or power cables) using an industry standard, general purpose numerical tool. It comprehensively accounts for the complex relationships between umbilical curvature, tension, inter-layer contact forces and tube stress variation. This paper describes the validation of the method against measured data obtained from full scale fatigue tests performed on two deepwater umbilicals. A key feature of the method relates to the construction and verification of suitable finite element (FE) models and the simulation of fatigue conditions. For the validation of the models, results from the full scale dynamic umbilical test cases incorporating bend stiffeners and loading arms are used, which demonstrate umbilical hysteretic behavior under cyclic bending loads. Hysteretic stress-curvature loops obtained from strain gauge readings for various tube locations within the bend stiffener regions for two umbilical constructions with significantly different lay-up configurations and fatigue stress regimes are used for comparison to strain predictions from the FE models. A significant advantage of the modelling and analysis methods described in this paper is that it employs the widely-used industry standard numerical FE tool, Abaqus, for the modelling and analysis of the umbilical. Key features and insights from the modelling, analysis approach and validation against the results of a deepwater umbilical dynamic test program are described. A robust and efficient method for the independent assessment of the fatigue capacity of deepwater umbilicals is demonstrated.

This paper continues to document the design, development, and test of a friction-based (non-adhesive) post-installable fiber-optic strain sensing system for oil and gas applications — especially those that require deployment on existing subsea structures. (Ref: OMAE2017-61494 Development and Testing of a Friction-Based Post-Installable Sensor for Subsea Fiber-Optic Monitoring Systems [1]). The prototype fiber-optic monitoring system collects a wide range of real-time data, which can be used to determine structural loading, fatigue, temperature, pressure, and flow assurance on operational platforms. The primary challenge of a post-installed instrumentation monitoring system is to ensure secure coupling between the sensors and the structure of interest for reliable measurements. Friction-based coupling devices have the potential to overcome installation challenges caused by marine growth and soil contamination on subsea structures, flowlines, or risers. This particular design solution is compatible with structures that are suspended in the water column and those that are resting on the seabed. In addition, the system can be installed by commercial divers in shallow depths or by remotely operated vehicles in deep-water applications. Operational limitations of the initial design concept were identified in the previous series of tests (2016–2017), and several innovative enhancements have been implemented which resulted in significant improvements in sensor system coupling and strain measurement correlation with traditional strain measuring devices. This paper provides a summary of the notable prototype design changes, full-scale test article buildup, and detailed performance data recorded during tension and compression loading that simulated representative offshore conditions. The test results were positive and demonstrated the effectiveness of the design enhancements. Compromises made during mounting of the sensing elements resulted in better performance in tension than compression. These effects are well understood and are fully discussed, and do not influence the viability of the design changes. This study is part of a continuing collaboration between the Houston-based NASA-Johnson Space Center and Astro Technology, Inc. within a study called Clear Gulf. The primary objective of the Clear Gulf study is to develop advanced instrumentation technologies that will improve operational safety and reduce the risk of hydrocarbon spillage. NASA provided unique insights, expansive test facilities, and technical expertise to advance these technologies that would benefit the environment, the public, and commercial industries.

The use of synthetic fiber ropes for subsea installation is extending, as the offshore industry explores deeper waters, but there are few data available to evaluate the lifetime of these materials. In a previous OMAE presentation the authors described results from the first phase (2010–2013) of a JIP aiming to understand the mechanisms controlling the long term behavior of HMPE fibre ropes [1]. This presentation will describe the results from the second phase of this study (2014–2018) in which predictive models have been developed and applied to a range of improved braided rope materials. Two modeling approaches will be discussed, an empirical method based on residual strength after cycling, and a numerical approach using finite element software specifically adapted to fibre materials [2]. An extensive test program, which has generated a database of CBOS (cyclic bend over sheave) results for various grades of HMPE and different constructions, will be described. Comparisons have been made with steel wire handling lines in order to quantify the benefits of fibre ropes for these deepwater applications.

Rigid pipelines have been widely applied in offshore oil & gas operation and transmission industries on account of their structural simplicity, cost-effectiveness, ease of installation and maintenance. However, surface cracks frequently appear in the internal surface of rigid pipes due to dynamic loads or hydrogen embrittlement, etc. Under dynamic fatigue loads, surface cracks may continue to propagate and finally develop into penetrated cracks, which may cause leakage and serious accidents. Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) strengthening technology is already a reliable technique for structure maintenance in onshore pipelines and penetrated cracks in load-bearing circular hollow sections (CHS). Nevertheless, there are very limited systematic investigations of surface crack in rigid pipes reinforced with FRP, which has a remarkable significance for offshore rigid pipes. This paper aims to understand the mechanism of semi-elliptical surface crack growth in the internal surface of rigid pipes under fatigue bending moment reinforced with FRP. Stress intensity factors along the crack front are computed through finite-element (FE) models, which are validated by experimental data from references. The influence of wrapping orientation of CFRP are discussed as well. The numerical results show that under CFRP reinforcement, surface crack growth rate decreases significantly which ensures the safety use of rigid pipes in offshore industry.

This paper presents the numerical and experimental analysis of the seakeeping performances of a survey vessel operating in the Caspian Sea. For the numerical analysis we have developed our own code, based on a linear hydro-dynamic strip theory formulation. The irregular waves are modelled by short-term power density spectra JONSWAP, for the spectral parameters significant wave height and peak period corresponding to the Caspian Sea scattering diagram. The experimental study is developed at the towing tank from Naval Architecture Faculty of Galati, using a semi-captive scaled model 1:16 of the survey vessel, made of fibre glass and wood, being recorded the heave, pitch, roll motions and wave elongation. The experimental tests are carried out for two speeds and several significant heading cases: head, follow and beam regular waves. This study delivers the prediction of the survey vessel seakeeping capabilities and the validation of the numerical response amplitude operators by experiment.

Fiber reinforced polymeric laminated materials are suitable for risers in deep-sea applications due to their superior strength, corrosion and fatigue resistance, light weight, low maintenance cost, low transportation cost, and ability for continuous manufacturing. However, due to their anisotropic material properties, the modeling of the dynamic response due to interaction with the internal flow and the sea water is more complicated. In the present work a model for flow induced instability analysis of long, multi-layered, fiber reinforced risers is performed. The motion equations take into account the elastic flexural restoring force of the anisotropic material, the centrifugal force of the fluid flowing in curved portions of the pipe, the Corriolis force, the inertia force of the mass of pump, pipe, and fluid, and the effect of the surrounding water. Combination of the motion equations yields a fourth order partial differential equation in terms of flexural displacements. The transfer matrix method is implemented to the above equation for the critical flow velocities calculation. The “global stiffness matrix” of the pipe-pump system containing the boundary conditions, the anisotropic material properties and the flow parameters, is derived. The condition for non-trivial solution is solved numerically yielding the values of the critical flow velocity, i.e. the internal flow velocity causing flow induced pipeline instability. The results are affected by the anisotropic properties of the material, the mass of the hanged pump, the drag coefficient, and the flow parameters. The results are commented and discussed.

In this paper both a coarse and fine wood fibre type of Lost Circulation Material (LCM) is tested in the laboratory. It is shown how these fibre treatments work. The fibre type is partially oil wetting making them suitable for application in oil based drilling fluids. The fine material helps stopping small drilling induced fractures, while the coarse helps stopping lost circulation into several natural fractures or coal or conglomerate formations. In the article, the selection of wood fibres is described in more detail. Testing of the fine materials were conducted conventionally by pumping drilling fluid volumes with LCM onto slotted disks in fluid loss apparatuses. The coarse fibres are too large to be tested in these apparatuses. Therefore, gravel with grain diameter around two centimetres was filled into transparent cylinders. The pore throats created by these gravel particles were above half a centimetre. For both of these LCMs the experiments show the sensitivity of the LCM concentration in the drilling fluid to stop the lost circulation. Also, it is shown the effect of the LCM on viscous properties of the drilling fluids. Not all LCMs can be pumped through the bit. The article describes the need for circulation subs in the bottom hole assembly (BHA) to hinder the LCM blocking the entire BHA.

This paper presents the design and development of a friction-based coupling device for a fiber-optic monitoring system capable of measuring pressure, strain, and temperature that can be deployed on existing subsea structures. A summary is provided of the design concept, prototype development, prototype performance testing, and subsequent design refinements of the device. The results of laboratory testing of the first prototype performed at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Johnson Space Center (JSC) are also included. Limitations of the initial concept were identified during testing and future design improvements were proposed and later implemented. These new features enhance the coupling of the sensor device and improve the monitoring system measurement capabilities. A major challenge of a post-installed instrumentation monitoring system is to ensure adequate coupling between the instruments and the structure of interest for reliable measurements. Friction-based devices have the potential to overcome coupling limitations caused by marine growth and soil contamination on flowlines, risers, and other subsea structures. The work described in this paper investigates the design and test of a friction-based coupling device (herein referred to as a friction clamp) which is suitable for pipelines and structures that are suspended in the water column as well as for those that are resting on the seabed. The monitoring elements consist of fiber-optic sensors that are bonded to a stainless steel clamshell assembly with a high-friction surface coating. The friction clamp incorporates a single hinge design to facilitate installation of the clamp and dual rows of opposing fasteners to distribute the clamping force along the structure. The friction clamp can be modified to be installed by commercial divers in shallow depths or by remotely operated vehicles in deep-water applications. NASA-JSC was involved in the selection and testing of the friction coating, and in the design and testing of the prototype clamp device. Four-inch diameter and eight-inch diameter sub-scale friction clamp prototypes were built and tested to evaluate the strain measuring capabilities of the design under different loading scenarios. The testing revealed some limitations of the initial design concept, and subsequent refinements were explored to improve the measurement performance of the system. This study was part of a collaboration between NASA-JSC and Astro Technology Inc. within a study called Clear Gulf. The primary objective of the Clear Gulf study is to develop advanced instrumentation technologies that will improve operational safety and reduce the risk of hydrocarbon spillage. NASA provided unique insights, expansive test facilities, and technical expertise to advance technologies that will benefit the environment, the public, and commercial industries.

Conventional steel coiled tubing cannot reach along the entire length of very long horizontal oil wells. A lighter and more buoyant coiled tube is made possible using composite materials. The high stiffness to weight ratio of fiber reinforced polymers, coupled with a lower coefficient of friction, has the potential of greatly extending the reach in horizontal oil wells. This study shows how to design composite coiled tubing and gives a comprehensive discussion about the most influential parameters. Several solutions, using glass-fiber and carbon are considered. Finite element models are used to calculate the buckling loads and the corresponding interlaminar stresses. The very positive results obtained during this study show that composite coiled tubing systems are vastly superior to their steel counterparts, and that in the future, these will become the new industry standard.

Flexible pipe has been widely used in offshore industry for many years. The traditional composite structure of flexible pipe consists of many layers, including multiple metallic layers, such as tensile armor, pressure armor and carcass, as well as nonmetallic layers, such as sheath and liner. Typical flexible pipe is heavy and requires complex manufacturing process, especially pressure armor and carcass manufacturing. Therefore, there is a desire to find a replacement to pressure armor and carcass. With the recent development of a new composite material with lighter weight and higher strength, it now becomes possible. This new composite material is called epoxy compounded carbon fiber (EP/CF). Carbon fiber is 10 times stronger than steel, while it is only 1/5 of the steel weight. Epoxy protects carbon fiber from environmental conditions such as high temperature and corrosion, also bond carbon fiber together and help to redistribute the loading between carbon fibers. This paper is to present a new concept of flexible pipe by applying the EP/CF material to flexible design. In this new flexible concept, EP/CF is used to strengthen the inner sheath by surface activation treatment of sheath material. This provides excellent hoop strength to resist the inner pressure, hence provides a good replacement to the pressure armor and carcass. A new FEA analysis method with ABAQUS is also presented in this paper. In the analysis approach, all helix fibers are modelled using predefined beam element, and EP/CF reinforced inner sheath is modeled using laminated composite shell. Nonlinear FEA analysis is carried out in ABAQUS to investigate the tension and bending behavior of flexible pipe with reinforced inner sheath, including the performance of inner pressure resistance, which is one of the key performances. Analysis is also carried out to study the benefit of using EP/CF on outer sheath reinforcement for collision protection. Lastly, the economics and feasibility of this concept are discussed, and conclusions are drawn.

Green water impact due to extreme waves impinging on a fixed, rectangular shaped model structure was investigated experimentally. The experiment was carried out in the large wave basin of the Offshore Technology Research Center at Texas A&M University. In the study, two wave conditions were considered: a plunging breaking wave impinging on the frontal vertical wall (referred as wall impingement) and a breaking wave directly impinging on the deck surface (referred as deck impingement ). The aerated flow velocity was measured by employing the bubble image velocimetry (BIV) technique with high speed cameras. The pressure distribution on the deck surface was measured by four differential pressure sensors. The fiber optic reflectometer (FOR) technique was employed to measure the void fraction in front of each pressure sensor end face. The flow velocity, void fraction, and impact pressure, were synchronized and simultaneously measured. Comparisons between an earlier study by Ryu et al. (2007) and the present study were performed to examine the scale effect. Results between Song et al. (2015) and the present results were also compared to investigate the influence of structure geometry on green water flow and impact pressure. To examine the role of air bubbles during the impact, the velocity, pressure, and void fraction were correlated. Correlation between the peak pressure and the aeration level shows a negative trend before the wave impingement but a positive linear relationship after the impingement.

Marine hydrokinetic turbines typically operate in harsh, strongly dynamic conditions. All components of the turbine system must be extremely robust and able to withstand large and constantly varying loads; the long and relatively slender blades of marine turbines are especially vulnerable. Because of this, modern marine turbine blades are increasingly constructed from fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites. Composite materials provide superior strength- and stiffness-to-weight ratios and improved fatigue and corrosion resistance compared to traditional metallic alloys. Additionally, it is possible to tailor the anisotropic properties of FRP composites to create an adaptive pitch mechanism that will adjust the load on the turbine in order to improve system performance, especially in off-design or varying flow conditions. In this work, qualitative fundamentals of composite structures are discussed with regards to the design of experimental scale adaptive pitch blades. The load-deformation relationship of flume-scale adaptive composite blades are characterized experimentally under static loading conditions, and dynamic loading profiles during flume testing are reported. Two sets of adaptive composite blades are compared to neutral pitch composite and rigid aluminum designs. Experimental results show significant load adjustments induced through passive pitch adaptation, suggesting that adaptive pitch composite blades could be a valuable addition to marine hydrokinetic turbine technology.

Synthetic fibre ropes are in widespread use in maritime applications ranging from lifting to temporary and permanent mooring systems for vessels, offshore equipment and platforms. The selection of synthetic ropes over conventional steel components is motivated by several key advantages including selectable axial stiffness, energy absorption (and hence load mitigation), fatigue resistance and low unit cost. The long-term use of ropes as safety critical components in potentially high dynamic loading environments necessitates that new designs are verified using stringent qualification procedures. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is one certification body that has produced several guidelines for the testing of synthetic ropes encompassing quasi-static and dynamic loading as well as fatigue cycling. This paper presents the results of tension-tension tests carried out to ISO 2307:2010, ISO 18692:2007(E) and ISO/TS 19336:2015(E) on three different 12-strand rope constructions manufactured by Ashimori Industry Co. Ltd from polyester and Vectran ® fibres. The purpose of the tests was to characterise the performance of a novel 12-strand construction and compare this to a conventional 12-strand construction. Utilising the Dynamic Marine Component test facility (DMaC) at the University of Exeter several key performance metrics were determined including; elongation, minimum break load (MBL) and quasi-static and dynamic stiffness. During the ISO 2307:2010(E) test programme the samples were tested dry and during the ISO 18692:2007(E) and ISO/TS 19336:2015(E) test programmes the samples were fully submerged in tap water after being soaked for at least 24 hours. Two methods were used to quantify sample extension: i) an optical tracking system and ii) a draw-wire potentiometer. Axial compression fatigue and cyclic loading endurance tests were also carried out on two Vectran ® samples. Further load-to-failure tests and sample analysis were also carried out by Ashimori Industry Co. Ltd. It was found that the MBL of the samples exceeded the values specified by the manufacturer (by 7.7–29.5% for the polyester samples) with failure occurring at the splices in all cases and minor abrasion noted in several locations. The measured MBL of the novel polyester Straight Strand Rope (SSR) construction was up to 16% higher than the conventional construction with increases of quasi-static and dynamic stiffness of up to 6.8%. Differences between the viscoelastic and viscoplastic behaviour of the samples were also noted. The data obtained during these tests will provide insight into the behaviour of these materials and different rope constructions which will be of use to rope manufacturers, mooring system designers in addition to offshore equipment and vessel operators.

A model test of a free-hanging riser under vessel motion was performed in the ocean basin at Shanghai Jiao Tong University to confirm whether vortex-induced vibration (VIV) can happen due to pure vessel motion, to investigate the equivalent current velocity and Keulegan–Carpenter (KC) number effect on the VIV responses and to obtain the correlations for free-hanging riser VIV under vessel motion with VIV for other compliant risers. Top end of the riser was forced to oscillate at given vessel motion trajectories. Fiber Brag Grating (FBG) strain sensors were used to measure the riser dynamic responses. Experimental results confirmed that the free-hanging riser would experience significant out-of-plane VIV. Meanwhile, VIV responses in terms of response amplitude, response frequency and cross-section trajectories under different test cases were further compared and discussed. Most importantly, the correlation among VIV response frequency, vortex shedding pairs and maximum KC number KC max was revealed. The presented work is supposed to provide useful references for gaining a better understanding on VIV induced by vessel motion, and for the development of future prediction models.

Low velocity impact on composite plates is studied taking material properties and initial velocity as random parameters. Graphite fiber reinforced composite plates are susceptible to damage due to impact by foreign objects and in plane loading. In order to assess the safe load carrying capacity and the probability of failure under impact, dynamic analysis of composite plate subjected to low velocity impact is carried out. Finite element method is used to study impact. During impact, the in-plane damage modes such as matrix cracking, fiber failure and shear cracking are modeled using a failure criterion. The out of plane de-lamination is modeled using cohesive surfaces. The uncertainties associated with the system properties due to the inherent scatter in the geometric and material properties and input loads are modeled in a probabilistic fashion. Random parameters represent various characteristics appearing in the limit state function. The probabilistic analysis and reliability prediction of the system is carried out using Gaussian response surface method and validity of method for the present problem is establish using Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) procedure. Sensitivity analysis of the probability of failure with respect to random parameters considered is an important study for design optimization. The safety level qualification is achieved in terms of reliability level targeted. The mean and standard deviations of random variables show an appreciable influence on the probabilistic failure. Systematic changes in the input parameters are governed by the probabilistic sensitivity tools to achieve target reliability.