A Reliability Evaluation and Inspection-Based Replacement Optimization Policy Considering Measurement Variability and State variations

• Published in: 2022 4th International Conference on System Reliability and Safety Engineering (SRSE) pp. 493 - 499
• Main Authors: Wei, Fanping, Yang, Li, Tan, Longyan, Ma, Xiaobing
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: IEEE 15.12.2022
• Subjects: avalability; cost decision-making; Costs; Degradation; engineering asset management; Inspection; inspection planning; Maintenance engineering; measurement variability; multi-phase system; reliability analysis; Reliability engineering; Reliability theory; replacement optimization; Sensitivity
• DOI: 10.1109/SRSE56746.2022.10067370

Inspection and inspection-based maintenance is an important measure in engineering asset management, due to its capacity to alleviate health deterioration. During inspection, many plants confront with inspection errors due to measurement accuracy and other unexpected noises, which is further complicated by random state transitions. To address the problem, this study investigates the reliability modeling and evaluation approach for a two-phase continuously degrading system subject to measurement variability. Accordingly, a state-driven, multi-threshold replacement policy is devised. Upon an inspection, the hidden defect and the real-time degradation are revealed, followed by replacement decision made according to the predetermined control limit considering the measurement variability. By jointly optimizing the inspection interval and replacement control limit, the operational cost is minimized. A numerical experiment is given to verify the profitability of the proposed policy over cost reduction and availability improvement.