Optimum component reassignment for balanced systems with multi-state components operating in a shock environment

Abstract

For systems with functionally exchangeable components, those components may work in different health states after operating for a period due to distinct working loads or external environment. To explore the full use of all components and extend the overall system lifetime, the components could be reassigned to different positions at a proper time. Thus, a component reassignment problem (CRP) needs to be solved to determine the optimum reassignment time and plan. Nowadays, the reliability analysis for balanced systems has attracted many scholars’ attention in engineering fields such as new energy storage, aeronautics, and astronautics. Because of the symmetrical feature of a balanced system, it is meaningful to solve the CRP problem. In this paper, we investigated the CRP for a balanced system with multi-state components working in a shock environment. In such a balanced system, the components are multi-state and system balance is defined based on component performance levels. Firstly, some reliability indices are derived by a two-step finite Markov chain imbedding approach. Secondly, to determine the optimum component reassignment time and strategy, an optimization model is constructed to maximize the system reliability at a certain time. Finally, an application of tire rotation is presented to demonstrate the proposed model.