Multi-state systems with multi-fault coverage

作者：Levitin Gregory^*; Amari Suprasad V

来源：Reliability Engineering & System Safety, 2008, 93(11): 1730-1739.

DOI：10.1016/j.ress.2007.12.004

• multi-state system
• fault-tolerant system
• imperfect fault coverage
• reliability
• multi-fault coverage
• universal generating function

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 multistate 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.

• 出版日期2008-11