Multi-state systems with multi-fault coverage

• Published in: Reliability engineering & system safety Vol. 93; no. 11; pp. 1730 - 1739
• Main Authors: Levitin, Gregory, Amari, Suprasad V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2008; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Exact sciences and technology; Fault-tolerant system; Imperfect fault coverage; Multi-fault coverage; Multi-state system; Operational research and scientific management; Operational research. Management science; Reliability; Reliability theory. Replacement problems; Universal generating function; Multi-fault coverage; Universal generating function; Multi-state system; Imperfect fault coverage; Reliability; Fault-tolerant system; Diagrammatic method; Coverage; State space; Dangerous material; Coexistence; Block diagram; Modeling; Recovery; Pipeline network; Electrical network; Recursive method; Defect; Distribution network; Fault tolerant system
• ISSN: 0951-8320; 1879-0836
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ress.2007.12.004

The paper introduces a new model of fault level coverage for multi-state systems in which the effectiveness of recovery mechanisms depends on the coexistence of multiple faults in related elements. Examples of this effect can be found in computing systems, electrical power distribution networks, pipelines carrying dangerous materials, etc. For evaluating reliability and performance indices of multi-state systems with imperfect multi-fault coverage, a modification of the generalized reliability block diagram (RBD) method is suggested. This method, based on a universal generating function technique, allows performance distribution of complex multi-state series–parallel system with multi-fault coverage to be obtained using a straightforward recursive procedure. Illustrative examples are presented.