Reliability analysis for the competing failure with probabilistic failure threshold value and its application to the k-out-of-n systems

Abstract

A method for reliability analysis of the competing failure with the probabilistic failure threshold value not the fixed threshold value is presented, which involves the random shocks and the degradation is independent and dependent respectively. Specifically, for the dependent condition, the effect due to the random shocks on the degradation is considered with a damage factor. In addition, the dependent competing failure model is applied to the reliability analysis of the k-out-of-n systems. Finally, two studied cases are presented to illustrate the proposed method, and the results show the proposed method is reasonable.

Reliability modeling for multistage systems subject to competing failure processes

“…Different models have been proposed to obtain sufficient and accurate failure data: (1) the general path model, which is constructed to assess the reliability according to the degradation data and accelerating degradation 26,27 ; (2) a stochastic process model, such as a gamma process or Markov process, is adopted to carry out the soft failure process; (3) statistical methods, such as additive and multiplicative functions, are often utilized to construct the degradation path function. 23 Most of the existing literature describes the soft failure process as a linear process without degradation rate changing-meaning that a constant degradation rate was assumed in the soft process. 29 Moreover, some literature describes how the process may have a change in degradation rate, as all the degradation rate changes were triggered by a shock.…”