Discrete-event Simulation of Operation and Maintenance of Telecommunication Equipment Using AnyLogic-based Multi-state Models

Abstract

Telecommunication equipment is a functional subsystem of railway transport which safety and efficiency are totally dependent on the reliable operation of utilized communication devices. Preventive maintenance is one of the most popular methods of ensuring the required reliability level of technological equipment on railways. The efficiency assessment of maintenance procedures implementation is done using the approved quality indicator of preventive maintenance. Whereas the availability coefficient is used for the quality estimation of the whole exploitation process. Generally, the calculation of the mentioned measures is performed on the basis of the statistical data about occurred failures. This method is characterized by significant advantages as well as obvious disadvantages in case of the lack or constrained obtaining of empirical data. Modern computer technologies allow automating and simplifying the estimation of the target quality indicators. However, it requires the development of proper mathematical support for such analysis. In the paper, we propose a simulation model of the operational process of railway telecommunication equipment with the opportunity of the estimation of the availability coefficient and the quality indicator of preventive maintenance in automated mode. The model takes into account sudden, fictitious and latent failures, the impact of spare parts availability and erroneous actions of service staff during maintenance, as well as periodicity and length of maintenance and repair for quality measures estimation. The model is built using the discrete-event approach with AnyLogic.