Belief Reliability: A Scientific Exploration of Reliability Engineering

This paper systematically introduces and reviews a scientific exploration of reliability called the belief reliability. Beginning with the origin of reliability engineering, the problems of present theories for reliability engineering are summarized as a query, a dilemma, and a puzzle. Then, through philosophical reflection, we introduce the theoretical solutions given by belief reliability theory, including scientific principles, basic equations, reliability science experiments, and mathematical measures. The basic methods and technologies of belief reliability, namely, belief reliability analysis, function-oriented belief reliability design, belief reliability evaluation, and several newly developed methods and technologies are sequentially elaborated and overviewed. Based on the above investigations, we summarize the significance of belief reliability theory and make some prospects about future research, aiming to promote the development of reliability science and engineering.