A Characteristic Load Oriented Reliability Allocation Method for Series System with Common Cause Failures

Abstract

Lots of system reliability evaluation methods and models have been developed for systems involving common cause failure, whereas most of the system reliability allocation methods are merely applicable to systems where component failures are independent of each other. It is necessary for a system reliability allocation method to reflect the effect of the statistical dependence between component failures. This paper expounds the essence of the component failure dependence in a mechanical system, presents a characteristic load oriented system reliability allocation method, in which the effect of component failure dependence is approximately taken into accounted. This method, reflecting component failure dependence effect by a characteristic load, is easy to apply and conservative if it is necessary.