A novel hybrid failure rate update model for imperfect maintenance

Abstract

Imperfect maintenance models, based on general renewal processes, have been extensively researched. However, the virtual age used for measuring the effect of imperfect maintenance is an unintuitive variable in models in the literature, leading to discrepancies between evaluation results and real situations. To solve this problem, a failure rate update model that considers virtual age and failure intensity update factors is proposed. In this model, the virtual age factor is determined by intuitive variables, and the failure intensity update factor is determined on the basis of virtual age, reflected by the virtual age factor. A brief illustration of the validity and feasibility of the proposed model is presented, based on real maintenance data. The results obtained through numerical experiments, sensitivity analysis, and a case study demonstrates that the proposed model can accurately reflect system reliability level in a convenient manner.