Appraisal of a Novel Reliability Optimisation Model Using Hypothetical Problems

Abstract:

This paper examines further a novel series-parallel system reliability optimisation model and methodology earlier developed by the authors. The aim was to investigate how the model constructed for hypothetical series-parallel systems, reacted to slight variations to its parameters, which are the weights for the subsystem reliabilities, the feasibility factors which quantify the level of difficulty of improving a component’s reliability, and the subsystem reliability lower bounds. The optimisation algorithm based on a convex combination of the subsystem reliabilities was run using various combinations of the values of these parameters. The results show that the model was stable under the weighting scheme used and the most sensitive parameters were the feasibility factors and the subsystem reliability lower bounds.

• Periodical: International Journal of Engineering Research in Africa (Volume 12)
• Pages: 1-14
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/JERA.12.1
• Online since: June 2014
• Authors: Stephen Boakye Twum*, Elaine Aspinwall
• Keywords: Component, Cost, Optimal Design, Reliability, Series-Parallel System, Subsystem

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