A managerial tool for reliability analysis using a novel Markov System Dynamics (MSD) approach

Abstract

System reliability is considered as an important performance index. Performance of engineering systems can be assessed by various techniques. In the traditional analytical techniques a mathematical model is developed to represent the system and to evaluate its reliability indices. There have been attempts in the literature to evolve more realistic techniques using simulation approach for reliability analysis of systems. This paper proposes a hybrid approach called as Markov System Dynamics (MSD) approach which combines the Markov approach with system dynamics simulation approach for reliability analysis and to study the dynamic behavior of systems. This approach will have the advantages of both Markov as well as System dynamics methodologies. The proposed framework is illustrated for a single component system with a numerical example. The results of the simulation when compared with that obtained by traditional Markov analysis clearly validate the Markov System Dynamics (MSD) approach as an alternative approach for reliability analysis.