Life-cycle optimization of structural systems based on cumulative prospect theory: Effects of the reference point and risk attitudes

Reliability-, risk-, and utility-based life-cycle maintenance is a normative approach for rational decision-making regarding structural systems under uncertainty. However, since these indicators cannot reflect the preference of stakeholders, the obtained plans may not be optimal from their standpoints. One of the most popular models to describe people's decisions under risk is cumulative prospect theory (CPT). CPT can capture the attitudes towards high consequence and low probability associated with structural failure by the value function and probability weighting function, respectively. CPT can also handle different risk attitudes towards gains and losses by introducing a reference point. Previous studies on calibration of CPT were developed for economics, healthcare, and traveling rout choices. Their results may not hold for civil infrastructure. Therefore, the parameters of CPT (i.e. value function, probability weighting function, and reference point) are calibrated through a survey among students and practicing engineers in the field of structural engineering. The fitted model is applied to life-cycle maintenance of a steel girder bridge. The calibration results show that the reference point is set to a prescribed plan. It is shown by the illustrative example that the reference point and opposite risk attitudes can significantly affect optimal decisions when searching for riskier plans.

Automated summary

Reliability-, risk-, and utility-based life-cycle maintenance is a normative approach for rational decision-making regarding structural systems under uncertainty. Cumulative prospect theory (CPT) is a popular model to describe people's decisions under risk, capturing attitudes towards high consequence and low probability associated with structural failure. Parameters of CPT need to be calibrated for specific contexts, as they can significantly affect optimal decisions under riskier plans.