Abstract
Reliability work occupies an increasingly important place in engineering practice. Although the details differ depending on whether mechanical, electrical, chemical, or other systems are under analysis, the reliability concepts and the mathematical foundations cut across the specific fields of application. Over the past 50 years thousands of papers and dozens of books on mathematical models of reliability have been published. A comprehensive survey alone on the current developments in the mathematical theory of reliability would fill a voluminous book. Based on importance both for theory and application and taking into account the interests of the author, current investigations in four important branches of reliability theory are considered: coherent systems, stochastic networks, software reliability, and maintenance theory.
Highlights
No other branch of engineering science, with exception of computer- and environmental technology, has developed and advanced as substantially during the past 40 years as reliability engineering
The concept of a system failure in this rather general sense is basic for reliability investigations
Reliability theory deals with the measurement, prediction, preservation and optimization of the reliability of technical systems
Summary
No other branch of engineering science, with exception of computer- and environmental technology, has developed and advanced as substantially during the past 40 years as reliability engineering. According to the IEC document [2], reliability is defined as "the capability of a product, a system, or a service to perform its expected job under specified conditions of use over an intended period of time". If the system is no longer capable of performing its job during its mission time, a system failure has occured. Reliability theory deals with the measurement, prediction, preservation and optimization of the reliability of technical systems. The main problems the mathematical theory of reliability deals with are: 1) Investigation of the mutual relationship between the reliability criteria of a system and its subsystems (components). 4) Development, investigation and optimization of measures for the preservation and restoration, respectively, of a fixed reliability level (maintenance theory). This contribution cannot give a full survey on all new trends and developments in the mathematical theory of reliability or cite all relevant literature. (Even the excellent volume MISRA [1] which comprises more than 700 pages is not complete.) Taking into account the interests of the author, here a selection is presented based on its importance both for theory and application
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
