An improved methodology for evaluating availability of multistate series–parallel systems using the polynomial distribution function
International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management
ISSN: 0265-671X
Article publication date: 12 March 2020
Issue publication date: 23 November 2020
Abstract
Purpose
This paper employs new methods to evaluate the availability of multistate series–parallel systems, in which a number of similar components are available in each subsystem.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, polynomial distribution function (PDF) is combined with universal generating function (UGF) and recursive algorithm (RA) methods to evaluate the availability of multistate series–parallel systems. To achieve this goal, the PDF is initially used to determine the performance rates and the probabilities corresponding to the performance states of the similar components in a subsystem. The obtained results are used to evaluate the system availability via the UGF and RA methods.
Findings
It is shown that the combined UGF and PDF (UGF-PDF) and also the combined RA and PDF (RA-PDF) methods require less computational time than did the UGF and RA methods, respectively.
Originality/value
In the UGF and RA methods, there is no difference in system availability evaluation time when considering similar or different components in each subsystem. But the proposed methods in this article do not have this restrictions; therefore, these methods can be used to evaluate system availability in optimal redundancy allocation problems. As a result, using these methods reduces the optimization time of those problems.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the anonymous referees, whose valuable comments enabled us to make significant improvements this paper.
Citation
Hashemzadeh Ghalhari, Z. and Zeinal Hamadani, A. (2020), "An improved methodology for evaluating availability of multistate series–parallel systems using the polynomial distribution function", International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, Vol. 37 No. 6/7, pp. 1033-1047. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJQRM-08-2019-0250
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited