Methods of Increasing System Reliability

Abstract

The RBD for the ‘total failure’ mode in a newly-designed system is likely to be a series connection of subsystems each of which consists of a series of units and modules. The overall failure rate must be divided between the subsystems, and preliminary predictions made to assess whether or not the system is likely to meet its reliability target; reliability allocation methods are described in Chapter 16. RBDs for other failure modes (if they are highly critical) may also have to be constructed. In cases where the preliminary designs seem unlikely to meet the specification, then methods of increasing system reliability must be sought.