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1 – 10 of over 102000
Article
Publication date: 28 April 2023

Daas Samia and Innal Fares

This study aims to improve the reliability of emergency safety barriers by using the subjective safety analysis based on evidential reasoning theory in order to develop on a…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to improve the reliability of emergency safety barriers by using the subjective safety analysis based on evidential reasoning theory in order to develop on a framework for optimizing the reliability of emergency safety barriers.

Design/methodology/approach

The emergency event tree analysis is combined with an interval type-2 fuzzy-set and analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method. In order to the quantitative data is not available, this study based on interval type2 fuzzy set theory, trapezoidal fuzzy numbers describe the expert's imprecise uncertainty about the fuzzy failure probability of emergency safety barriers related to the liquefied petroleum gas storage prevent. Fuzzy fault tree analysis and fuzzy ordered weighted average aggregation are used to address uncertainties in emergency safety barrier reliability assessment. In addition, a critical analysis and some corrective actions are suggested to identify weak points in emergency safety barriers. Therefore, a framework decisions are proposed to optimize and improve safety barrier reliability. Decision-making in this framework uses evidential reasoning theory to identify corrective actions that can optimize reliability based on subjective safety analysis.

Findings

A real case study of a liquefied petroleum gas storage in Algeria is presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology. The results show that the proposed methodology provides the possibility to evaluate the values of the fuzzy failure probability of emergency safety barriers. In addition, the fuzzy failure probabilities using the fuzzy type-2 AHP method are the most reliable and accurate. As a result, the improved fault tree analysis can estimate uncertain expert opinion weights, identify and evaluate failure probability values for critical basic event. Therefore, suggestions for corrective measures to reduce the failure probability of the fire-fighting system are provided. The obtained results show that of the ten proposed corrective actions, the corrective action “use of periodic maintenance tests” prioritizes reliability, optimization and improvement of safety procedures.

Research limitations/implications

This study helps to determine the safest and most reliable corrective measures to improve the reliability of safety barriers. In addition, it also helps to protect people inside and outside the company from all kinds of major industrial accidents. Among the limitations of this study is that the cost of corrective actions is not taken into account.

Originality/value

Our contribution is to propose an integrated approach that uses interval type-2 fuzzy sets and AHP method and emergency event tree analysis to handle uncertainty in the failure probability assessment of emergency safety barriers. In addition, the integration of fault tree analysis and fuzzy ordered averaging aggregation helps to improve the reliability of the fire-fighting system and optimize the corrective actions that can improve the safety practices in liquefied petroleum gas storage tanks.

Details

International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, vol. 41 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0265-671X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 8 July 2022

Da Teng, Yun-Wen Feng, Jun-Yu Chen and Cheng Lu

The purpose of this paper is to briefly summarize and review the theories and methods of complex structures’ dynamic reliability. Complex structures are usually assembled from…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to briefly summarize and review the theories and methods of complex structures’ dynamic reliability. Complex structures are usually assembled from multiple components and subjected to time-varying loads of aerodynamic, structural, thermal and other physical fields; its reliability analysis is of great significance to ensure the safe operation of large-scale equipment such as aviation and machinery.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper for the single-objective dynamic reliability analysis of complex structures, the calculation can be categorized into Monte Carlo (MC), outcrossing rate, envelope functions and extreme value methods. The series-parallel and expansion methods, multi-extremum surrogate models and decomposed-coordinated surrogate models are summarized for the multiobjective dynamic reliability analysis of complex structures.

Findings

The numerical complex compound function and turbine blisk are used as examples to illustrate the performance of single-objective and multiobjective dynamic reliability analysis methods. Then the future development direction of dynamic reliability analysis of complex structures is prospected.

Originality/value

The paper provides a useful reference for further theoretical research and engineering application.

Details

International Journal of Structural Integrity, vol. 13 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1757-9864

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 2 October 2017

Rajkumar Bhimgonda Patil, Basavraj S. Kothavale, Laxman Yadu Waghmode and Shridhar G. Joshi

The paper presents reliability, maintainability and life cycle cost (LCC) analysis of a computerized numerical control (CNC) turning center which is manufactured and used in…

Abstract

Purpose

The paper presents reliability, maintainability and life cycle cost (LCC) analysis of a computerized numerical control (CNC) turning center which is manufactured and used in India. The purpose of this paper is to identify the critical components/subsystems from reliability and LCC perspective. The paper further aims at improving reliability and LCC by implementing reliability-improvement methods.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses a methodology for the reliability analysis based on the assessment of trends in maintenance data. The data required for reliability and LCC analysis are collected from the manufacturers and users of CNC turning center over a period of eight years. ReliaSoft’s Weibull++9 software has been used for verifying goodness of fit and estimating parameters of the distribution. The LCC of the system is estimated for five cost elements: acquisition cost, operation cost, failure cost, support cost and net salvage value.

Findings

The analysis shows that the spindle bearing, spindle belt, spindle drawbar, insert, tool holder, drive battery, hydraulic hose, lubricant hose, coolant hose and solenoid valve are the components with low reliability. With certain design changes and implementation of reliability-based maintenance policies, system reliability is improved, especially during warranty period. The reliability of the CNC turning center is improved by nearly 45 percent at the end of warranty period and system mean time between failure is increased from 15,000 to 17,000 hours. The LCC analysis reveals that the maintenance cost, operating cost and support costs dominate the LCC and contribute to the tune of 87 percent of the total LCC.

Research limitations/implications

The proposed methodology provides an excellent tool that can be utilized in industries, where safety, reliability, maintainability and availability of the system play a vital role. The approach may be improved by collecting data from more number of users of the CNC turning centers.

Practical implications

The approach presented in this paper is generic and can be applied to analyze the repairable systems. A real case study is presented to show the applicability of the approach.

Originality/value

The proposed methodology provides a practical approach for the analysis of time-to-failure and time-to-repair data based on the assessment of trends in the maintenance data. The methodology helps in selecting a proper approach of the analysis such as Bayesian method, parametric methods and nonparametric methods.

Details

International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, vol. 34 no. 9
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0265-671X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 24 November 2020

Seyed Ashkan Zarghami and Indra Gunawan

As a response to the growing operational and disruptive threats to water distribution networks (WDNs), researchers have developed a vast array of methods for the reliability

Abstract

Purpose

As a response to the growing operational and disruptive threats to water distribution networks (WDNs), researchers have developed a vast array of methods for the reliability analysis of WDNs. In order to follow this growing number of methods, this paper reviews and documents in one place the historical developments in the reliability analysis of WDN.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature review (SLR) is carried out to summarize the state-of-the-art research on reliability analysis of WDNs. In conducting this systemic literature review, the authors adopted an iterative approach to define appropriate keywords, analyze and synthesize data and finalizing the classification results.

Findings

First, the hydraulic approach to reliability analysis is currently pervasive, and relatively little academic research has addressed the topological reliability analysis of WDNs. Second, in order to provide a comprehensive picture of the network reliability, a different approach that integrates topological and hydraulic attributes seems a more effective method. Third, the conventional reliability analysis methods are only effective for demonstrating a snapshot of these networks at a given point in time. The availability of methods that enable researchers to evaluate the reliability in response to changes in its variables is still a major challenge.

Originality/value

The present paper facilitates future research in the reliability analysis of WDNs by providing a source of references for researchers and water utilities. Further, this article makes a contribution to the literature by offering a roadmap for future reliability analysis of WDNs by reviewing the evolution of the current reliability analysis methods throughout history.

Details

Built Environment Project and Asset Management, vol. 11 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2044-124X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 March 1985

Yash Gupta and Wing Sing Chow

This article surveys the literature dealing with theory and applications of life cycle costing (LCC). It deals with the literature published in the last 25 years and provides 667…

1032

Abstract

This article surveys the literature dealing with theory and applications of life cycle costing (LCC). It deals with the literature published in the last 25 years and provides 667 references.

Details

International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, vol. 2 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0265-671X

Article
Publication date: 10 January 2020

Yining Zeng, Rongxing Duan, Shujuan Huang and Tao Feng

This paper aims to deal with the problems of failure dependence and common cause failure (CCF) that arise in reliability analysis of complex systems.

223

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to deal with the problems of failure dependence and common cause failure (CCF) that arise in reliability analysis of complex systems.

Design/methodology/approach

Firstly, a dynamic fault tree (DFT) is used to capture the dynamic failure behaviours and converted into an equivalent generalized stochastic petri net (GSPN) for quantitative analysis. Secondly, an efficient decomposition and aggregation (EDA) theory is combined with GSPN to deal with the CCF problem, which exists in redundant systems. Finally, Birnbaum importance measure (BIM) is calculated based on the EDA approach and GSPN model, and it is used to take decisions for system improvement and fault diagnosis.

Findings

In this paper, a new reliability evaluation method for dynamic systems subject to CCF is presented based on the DFT analysis and the GSPN model. The GSPN model is easy to capture dynamic failure behaviours of complex systems, and the movement of tokens in the GSPN model represent the changes in the state of the systems. The proposed method takes advantage of the GSPN model and incorporates the EDA method into the GSPN, which simplifies the reliability analysis process. Meanwhile, simulation results under different conditions show that CCF has made a considerable impact on reliability analysis for complex systems, which indicates that the CCF should not be ignored in reliability analysis.

Originality/value

The proposed method combines the EDA theory with the GSPN model to improve the efficiency of the reliability analysis.

Details

Engineering Computations, vol. 37 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-4401

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 21 December 2021

Xue-Qin Li, Lu-Kai Song and Guang-Chen Bai

To provide valuable information for scholars to grasp the current situations, hotspots and future development trends of reliability analysis area.

Abstract

Purpose

To provide valuable information for scholars to grasp the current situations, hotspots and future development trends of reliability analysis area.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, recent researches on efficient reliability analysis and applications in complex engineering structures like aeroengine rotor systems are reviewd.

Findings

The recent reliability analysis advances of engineering application in aeroengine rotor system are highlighted, it is worth pointing out that the surrogate model methods hold great efficiency and accuracy advantages in the complex reliability analysis of aeroengine rotor system, since its strong computing power can effectively reduce the analysis time consumption and accelerate the development procedures of aeroengine. Moreover, considering the multi-objective, multi-disciplinary, high-dimensionality and time-varying problems are the common problems in various complex engineering fields, the surrogate model methods and its developed methods also have broad application prospects in the future.

Originality/value

For the strong demand for efficient reliability design technique, this review paper may help to highlights the benefits of reliability analysis methods not only in academia but also in practical engineering application like aeroengine rotor system.

Details

International Journal of Structural Integrity, vol. 13 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1757-9864

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 May 1999

Markus J. Milne and Ralph W. Adler

This paper reports the results of an exploratory study of inter‐coder reliability of annual report social and environmental disclosures content analysis. Using the sentence‐based…

13124

Abstract

This paper reports the results of an exploratory study of inter‐coder reliability of annual report social and environmental disclosures content analysis. Using the sentence‐based coding instruments and decision rules from Hackston and Milne (1996), this study reports the co‐agreement levels reached by three coders over five rounds of testing 49 annual reports. The study also provides a commentary on the implications of formal reliability analysis for past and future social and environmental disclosures content analyses, and the complexities of formal reliability measurement. The overall findings suggest that the coded output from inexperienced coders using the Hackston and Milne approach with little or no prior training can be relied on for aggregate total disclosures analysis. For more detailed sub‐category analysis, however, the findings suggest a period of training for the less experienced coders with at least 20 reports appears necessary before their coded output could be relied on.

Details

Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, vol. 12 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0951-3574

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 21 June 2019

Amit Srivastava, Dharmendra Kumar Srivastava and Anil Kumar Misra

The present study aims to demonstrate the performance assessment of flexible pavement structure in probabilistic framework with due consideration of spatial variability modeling…

Abstract

Purpose

The present study aims to demonstrate the performance assessment of flexible pavement structure in probabilistic framework with due consideration of spatial variability modeling of input parameter.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis incorporates mechanistic–empirical approach in which numerical analysis with spatial variability modeling of input parameters, Monte Carlo simulations (MCS) and First Order Reliability Method (FORM) are combined together for the reliability analysis of the flexible pavement. Random field concept along with Cholesky decomposition technique is used for the spatial variability modeling of the input parameter and implemented in commercially available finite difference code FLAC for the numerical analysis of pavement structure.

Findings

Results of the reliability analysis, with spatial variability modeling of input parameter, are compared with the corresponding results obtained without considering spatial variability of parameters. Analyzing a particular three-layered flexible pavement structure, it is demonstrated that spatial variability modeling of input parameter provides more realistic treatment to property variations in space and influences the response of the pavement structure, as well as its performance assessment.

Originality/value

Research is based on reliability analysis approach, which can also be used in decision-making for quality control and flexible pavement design in a given environment of uncertainty and extent of spatially varying input parameters in a space.

Details

Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology , vol. 17 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1726-0531

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 21 August 2009

Komal, S.P. Sharma and Dinesh Kumar

The purpose of this paper is to present a hybridized technique for analyzing the behavior of an industrial system stochastically utilizing vague, imprecise, and uncertain data…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a hybridized technique for analyzing the behavior of an industrial system stochastically utilizing vague, imprecise, and uncertain data. The press unit of a paper mill situated in a northern part of India, producing 200 tons of paper per day, has been considered to demonstrate the proposed approach. Sensitivity analysis of system's behavior has also been done.

Design/methodology/approach

In the proposed approach, two important tools namely traditional Lambda‐Tau technique and genetic algorithm have been hybridized to build genetic algorithms‐based Lambda‐Tau (GABLT) technique to analyze the behavior of complex repairable industrial systems stochastically up to a desired degree of accuracy. This technique has been demonstrated by computing six well‐known reliability indices used for behavior analysis of the considered system in more promising way.

Findings

The behavior analysis results computed by GABLT technique have reduced region of prediction in comparison of existing Lambda‐Tau technique region, i.e. uncertainties involved in the analysis are reduced. Thus, it may be a more useful analysis tool to assess the current system conditions and involved uncertainties. The paper suggested an approach to improve the system's performance.

Originality/value

The paper suggests a hybridized technique for analyzing the stochastic behavior of an industrial subsystem by computing six well‐known reliability indices in the form of fuzzy membership function.

Details

International Journal of Intelligent Computing and Cybernetics, vol. 2 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1756-378X

Keywords

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