Reliability of imperfect switching of cold stanby systems with multiple non-critical and critical errors

Abstract

Reliability and availability analysis of having k active, N cold standby units with repair facilities and multiple non-critical and critical errors while the switching mechanism subjected to failure is presented. Failed (active and/or by any one of the multiple non-critical errors) units will be repaired at a constant repair rate. The system is in a failed state when any one of the multiple critical errors has occurred, ( N + 1) units have failed or there is a failure of switching mechanism. A failed system will be repaired with repair times arbitrarily distributed. The expressions for reliability and steady-state availability are given.