Failure probability assessment of parallel redundant structures

Abstract

Considered in the analysis are complex systems with parallel redundancy. The failure probability of such a system is assessed by the strength probabilistic properties of the structural elements. There is a finite number of parallel structural elements that provides the maximum possible reliability of the system. Parallel systems may fail by instantaneous growth of failed elements. The tendency to catastrophic failure depends on the element strength probability and overload. Calculated is the critical stress corresponding to the beginning of catastrophic failure of the parallel system. Weibull probability distribution is used for describing the structural element strength. The critical stress ranges from 50% to 95% of the mean single element strength; depends on the overload and probability distribution.