Reliability Analysis of a Complex Series System with Correlated Failures and Repairs
Keywords:
stochastic modelling, repair rate, failure intensity, system availability, Markov process, repair dependency, common-cause failure, correlated failures, series system, System reliabilityAbstract
The reliability of complex engineering systems depends not only on the performance of individual components but also on the interactions between component failures and repair activities. Traditional reliability models frequently assume that component failures occur independently and that repair operations are statistically independent. However, practical engineering systems often experience correlated failures due to common environmental conditions, shared power supplies, operational stress, maintenance practices and common-cause events. Similarly, repair activities may be interdependent because components share maintenance personnel, spare parts, repair facilities and operational resources. These dependencies can significantly influence overall system reliability and availability.
The present study examines the reliability characteristics of a complex series system incorporating correlated component failures and dependent repair mechanisms. A stochastic modelling framework is proposed using continuous-time Markov processes, conditional failure intensities and repair-rate parameters. The model considers the effects of common-cause failures, individual component failures, repair dependencies and system restoration. Particular attention is given to steady-state availability, reliability function, mean time to system failure and the influence of repair efficiency.
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