Vol. 22, No. 3, pp. 307-314 (2026)
UNCERTAINTY QUANTIFICATION OF STEEL TRUSS ASSEMBLY ACCURACY BASED ON ERROR PROPAGATION AND METAMODEL-BASED METHODS
Li-Hang Chen 1, Dong Liang 1, 2, *, Hai-Bin Huang 1, Li-Chao Su 2, 3 and Bo Wang 4
1 School of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China.
2 Hebei Steel-Concrete Composite Bridge Technology Innovation Center, Xingtai Hebei 054001, China
3 Xingtai Road and Bridge Construction Corporation, Xingtai Hebei 054001, China
4 State Key Laboratory for Health and Safety of Bridge Structure, Wuhan 430034, China
*(Corresponding author: E-mail:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
Received: 25 April 2025; Revised: 4 October 2025; Accepted: 5 October 2025
DOI:10.18057/IJASC.2026.22.3.6
 View Article |
Export Citation: Plain Text | RIS | Endnote |
ABSTRACT
The manufacturing errors of steel truss members exhibit considerable randomness, potentially compromising the on-site assembly accuracy and hindering compliance with the specified assembly requirements. This paper proposes a theoretical analysis approach based on error propagation and quantifies the assembly accuracy with metamodel-based methods to address this issue. Furthermore, the reliability is taken as an indicator to ensure the assembly accuracy due to the stochasticity. First, develop error propagation and accumulation models of statically indeterminate steel trusses through structure deconstruction. Then, determine the uncertainty factor and the assembly accuracy function. Finally, compare the assembly accuracy and efficiency of the Monte Carlo simulation and approximation, simulation, and metamodel-based methods for better subsequent quantification calculation. The assembly accuracy and sensitivity analysis of two different structural steel trusses in practical engineering are conducted. The assembly accuracy results show that the assembly accuracy of the first steel truss is 1.200mm, 1.239mm, 1.053mm, and 0.988mm, and that of the second one is 1.293mm, 1.293mm, 1.088mm, and 1.010mm, all with 100% reliability. The sensitivity analysis results indicate that the angular error of the first steel truss is the most critical variable, and the rod length error of the second one plays a vital role during assembly. In addition, the theoretical research is independent of the materials and structures employed, allowing for its application to more complex structures.
KEYWORDS
Uncertainty quantification, Error propagation, Steel truss, Assembly accuracy, Monte Carlo simulation, Metamodel-based methods, Error propagation
REFERENCES
[1] B. Shangguan, H. Y. Hu, P. H. Ning and Q. T. Su. "Mingzhuwan Bridge: the largest span three-main-truss steel arch bridge." Structural Engineering International, 33(1), 89-95, 2023
[2] X. K. Zou, Y. Zhang, Y. P. Liu, L. C. Shi and D. Kan. "Design and construction of high-performance long-span steel transfer twin trusses applied in one hospital building in Hong Kong." Buildings, 13(3), 2023
[3] Y. FENG, Y. ZHANG, L. WANG, X. XIANG and T. QIU. "Structural analysis of steel structure of a 60,000-seats stadium." Journal, 2023(Issue), 1-12, 2023
[4] G. Cheng, W. Zheng, H. Chen, C. Zhu and Y. Li. "Key technology of steel roof manufacturing of Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport T4 terminal building." Building Structure, 51(23), 34-37, 2021
[5] J. Lu and W. Chen. "Structural design and manufacturing length errors analyses of crossed spoke cable-truss structure." Advances in Structural Engineering, 26(7), 1260-1275, 2023
[6] G. Cheng, J. Liu, N. Cui, H. Hu, C. Xu and J. Tang. "Virtual trial assembly of large steel members with bolted connections based on point cloud data." Automation in Construction, 151(104866, 2023
[7] Y. Zhou, D. G. Han, K. X. Hu, G. C. Qin, Z. F. Xiang, C. L. Ying, L. D. Zhao and X. Y. Hu. "Accurate virtual trial assembly method of prefabricated steel components using terrestrial laser scanning." Advances in Civil Engineering, 2021(2021
[8] T. Lu, S. Wang, A. Wang, L. Luo, W. Li and M. Wang. "Research and application of key technology in construction of steel structure of super-high and large-span heavy duty globular corridor." Journal, 790-795, 2021
[9] M. Guo, S. Guo, Q. Meng, M. Liu, J. Wang, C. Cui and X. Zhang. "Intelligent virtual trial assembly of prefabricated frame structures for large and complex construction scenes." Automation in Construction, 172(106047, 2025
[10] J. Madrid, S. Lorin, R. Söderberg, P. Hammersberg, K. Wärmefjord and J. Lööf. "A virtual design of experiments method to evaluate the effect of design and welding parameters on weld quality in aerospace applications." Aerospace, 6(6), 74, 2019
[11] Y. Yi, Y. Yan, X. Liu, Z. Ni, J. Feng and J. Liu. "Digital twin-based smart assembly process design and application framework for complex products and its case study." Journal of Manufacturing Systems, 58(94-107, 2021
[12] Liu C, Liu Y and Chen Y. "A state-of-the-practice review of three-dimensional laser scanning technology for tunnel distress monitoring." Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities, 37(2), 03123001, 2023
[13] L. Xiaoguang and P. Yongjie. "Application of virtual pre-assembly technology for steel truss girder." Railway Engineering, 60(01), 1-6, 2020
[14] Guo J, Wang Q and P. J. H. "Geometric quality inspection of prefabricated MEP modules with 3D laser scanning." Automation in Construction, 111(103053, 2020
[15] D. Hongwang, W. Xiong, W. Haitao and W. Zuwen. "Physical modeling and geometry configuration simulation for flexible cable in a virtual assembly system." Assembly Automation, 40(6), 905-915, 2020
[16] Z. Jianjin. "Key technology for Wutong Minjiang ridge closure of Chengdu-Guiyang high speed railway." Construction Technology, 46(20), 27-30, 2017
[17] L. Jun-tang. "Integral manufacturing and erection techniques for steel truss girder of main navigational channel bridge of Shanghai-Suzhou-Nantong Changjiang River Bridge." Bridge Construction, 50(05), 10-15, 2020
[18] l. Ailin and L. Xu. "Key erection techniques for main bridge steel girder of Wuhu Changjiang River Rail-cum-Road Bridge on Shangqiu-Hefei-Hangzhou Railway." Bridge Construction, 50(01), 1-6, 2020
[19] C. Tao. "Key erection techniques for two-panel large segments of three-main-truss steel girder." Bridge Construction, 50(06), 8-13, 2020
[20] W. Haibin. "Erection techniques for continuous steel truss girder of Huanghe River Rail-cum-Road Bridge of Zhengzhou-Jinan High-Speed Railway." Bridge Construction, 52(05), 8-13, 2022
[21] X. Chuanchang. "Stochastic finite element method for structural of continous beam bridge during the construction process." Journal, 2009
[22] M. W. Spong, S. Hutchinson and M. Vidyasagar. "Robot modeling and control." Journal, 2020
[23] S. Raychaudhuri. "Introduction to Monte Carlo simulation." Journal, 91-100, 2008
[24] L. Hong, H. Li and J. Fu. "A novel surrogate-model based active learning method for structural reliability analysis." Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, 394(114835, 2022
[25] L. Hong, B. Shang, S. Li, H. Li and J. Cheng. "Portfolio allocation strategy for active learning Kriging-based structural reliability analysis." Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, 412(116066, 2023
[26] M. Behtash and M. Alexander-Ramos. "A Comparative Study Between the Generalized Polynomial Chaos Expansion-and First-Order Reliability Method-Based Formulations of Simulation-Based Control Co-Design." Journal of Mechanical Design, 146(8), 2024
[27] H. R. Maier, B. J. Lence, B. A. Tolson and R. O. Foschi. "First‐order reliability method for estimating reliability, vulnerability, and resilience." Water Resources Research, 37(3), 779-790, 2001
[28] J. Zhang and X. Du. "A second-order reliability method with first-order efficiency." Journal of Mechanical Design, 10(132), 101006, 2010
[29] Z. Hu, R. Mansour, M. Olsson and X. Du. "Second-order reliability methods: a review and comparative study." Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization, 64( 3233–3263, 2021
[30] A. Tabandeh, G. F. Jia and P. Gardoni. "A review and assessment of importance sampling methods for reliability analysis." Structural Safety, 97(2022
[31] S. T. Tokdar and R. E. Kass. "Importance sampling: a review." Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Computational Statistics, 2(1), 54-60, 2010
[32] S.-K. Au and J. L. Beck. "Estimation of small failure probabilities in high dimensions by subset simulation." Probabilistic engineering mechanics, 16(4), 263-277, 2001
[33] L. Puppo, N. Pedroni, A. Bersano, F. Di Maio, C. Bertani, E. Zio and Design. "Failure identification in a nuclear passive safety system by Monte Carlo simulation with adaptive Kriging." Nuclear Engineering, 380(111308, 2021
[34] B. Echard, N. Gayton and M. Lemaire. "AK-MCS: an active learning reliability method combining Kriging and Monte Carlo simulation." Structural safety, 33(2), 145-154, 2011
[35] C. Dang, M. A. Valdebenito, P. Wei, J. Song, M. Beer and S. Safety. "Bayesian active learning line sampling with log-normal process for rare-event probability estimation." Reliability Engineering, 246(110053, 2024
[36] C. Dang, M. A. Valdebenito, M. G. R. Faes, J. Song, P. Wei and M. Beer. "Structural reliability analysis by line sampling: A Bayesian active learning treatment." Structural Safety, 104(102351, 2023
[37] Standard. "Tolerances for fasteners—bolts, screws, studs and nuts (GB/T 3103.1-2002)." Journal, 2002
[38] Y. Cheng, X. Zhuang and T. Yu. "Time-dependent reliability analysis of planar mechanisms considering truncated random variables and joint clearances." Probabilistic Engineering Mechanics, 75(103552, 2024
[39] S. I. M. "Sensitivity estimates for nonlinear mathematical models." Mathematical Modelling and Computational Experiments, 1(1), 112-118, 1993
[40] S. Marelli, C. Lamas, K. Konakli, C. Mylonas, P. Wiederkehr and B. Sudret. "UQLab user manual– Sensitivity analysis." Journal, Report UQLab-V2.1-106(Issue), 2024