exp

For A
,
R( + ) =
e-Rt 9) Single element
, Rs =
-25 = 0 .
726

MTBF =
I = 837 Redundant element , Rr =
- (1 + = 0 959
.

x =
1 19474313
.
X 10-3
10-3
-
1 19474 X x 150
b) A
- .

R(t) =
e
=

+2
= 0 926
.

= 0 .
8359291072

= e-she
For B . R() As =
0 .

994
20

0 .

994-0 926 .
= 0 068
.

= 0 .
7971141629 0 .
068 >
- $25000

For C ,
z = 0 001
. ->
$6250/17
150-420

Wstandby 994 +> 994 $365441 1765

=

3
=
0 .
x = .

-2 030076
=
.

: Downtime 100/hr

P(z( -

2 .
03) = 1 -0 212 .

=> 365441 = 100

0 9788
3654
=
=
.

Rsys = R, x (1 -

(1 R2) (1
- -

R3))
=
0 835929
. x (1 -

(1 -
0 . 79711) (1-0 9788))
.

= 0 .

8323
SIE3106 Maintenance Engineering

Tutorial 5: System Reliability Analysis

1. An old-fashioned string of Christmas tree lights has 10 bulbs connected in series. The 10 identical bulbs
are assumed to have independent times-to-failure with constant failure rate 𝜆. Determine 𝜆 such that
the probability that the string survives three weeks is at least 99%.

(R())" = (e-xt) =
0 99
.
-

0x =
140 99
.
=
09 t
week
= 0 000335 per
.

2. Consider three identical and independent items in parallel. What is the system reliability when each
item has a reliability of 98%?
1 (1-0 98) (1-0 98) (1-0 98)
-
.
.
.

3. Calculate the reliability over a 150 h mission for the system whose reliability block diagram is shown
below.

The probability distributions of lives to failure of the elements are:

A – constant hazard, mean life = 837 h
B – Weibull, with shape parameter = 2.0, characteristic life 315 h
C – normal, with mean = 420 h and standard deviation 133 h

4. An element in a manufacturing system has a mean time between failures of 25 hr. When it fails it takes,
on average, 2 h to restore it to an operating condition. It has been suggested that the problems caused
by the unreliability of this element could be avoided by installing a second identical element as a
standby:
a. Calculate the probability of completing an 8 h shift without a system failure both for the single
element and for the redundant-element system.
( )
(Hint: reliability of standby is 𝑅 = 𝑒 ∑ with identical component failure rates)
!
b. If a repair team is made available such that repairs can be started on a failed element immediately
after failure, calculate the long-term system availability.
c. Assume that the availability of the system with a standby element is 0.994. If the additional
element costs $25 000 and downtime costs $100 per hour, what is the payback period (in number
of hours) for the additional element? (Ignore discounting of cash flows.)

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AY2023/24 Trimester 2
SIE3106 Maintenance Engineering

5. The reliability block diagram of an aircraft engine sub-system, namely “Fuel Supply Sub-System #4A-
R1”, is shown in the figure.

e
Pipe 1

Pipe 2
Engine A
Tank A Pipe 3

Tank B

Engine B
Auxiliary Tank Pipe 4

a. Perform reliability analysis of the given sub-system in terms of

i. Path set method
ii. Cut set method
b. Determine the upper and lower bounds of the system reliability, given component reliability as
follows,
 𝑅 = 𝑅 = 0.85
 𝑅 = 0.8
 𝑅 = 𝑅 = 𝑅 = 0.85
 𝑅 = 0.8
 𝑅 = 𝑅 = 0.99

6. The system sketched below is used to regulate the downstream pressure of gas in a chemical plant.
There are two regulators whose function is to keep the downstream pressure at a constant value. The
upstream pressure fluctuates, but is always much higher than the required downstream pressure. The
regulators function independently, but both sense the downstream pressure at the same point (X).

A regulator can fail in one of two ways: ‘open’, in which case it becomes ‘straight through’ so that the
flow of gas is unrestricted, and reliability in this mode is 𝑅 ; or ‘closed’, in which it totally blocks the
flow of gas and reliability in this mode is 𝑅 .
a. On the assumption that the two types of failure are independent, produce expressions for system
reliability (i) for the system failing due to total loss of flow; (ii) for the system failing due to
overpressure downstream.
b. The times-to-failure of the regulators are described by the following distributions:
Closed – exponential with mean life of 2 years
Open – Weibull with 𝛽 = 1.8 and 𝜂 = 1.6 years
What is the probability of obtaining one year of failure-free operation in each mode?
c. What is the probability of obtaining one year of failure-free operation irrespective of the mode of
failure?

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AY2023/24 Trimester 2
SIE3106 Maintenance Engineering

7. Create a reliability block diagram for your given Tamiya car model for your group project. Explain your
considerations and assumptions if any. Hint:
 When a system has a single function, such as “car moves”, it is generally a straightforward matter
to construct the system RBD.
 In reality, a system will have to perform more than one function or where the same function may
be performed by more than one set of elements, the construction of the RBD may become much
more complex. In these situations, it is advisable to follow a set procedure when drawing the RBD.
 The process of constructing an RBD for a complex system may be summarised as follows:
a) Specify the function(s) to be analysed, and the operating state (e.g. standby, full power, etc.).
b) Specify the minimum requirements for the system to operate successfully in terms of the
functions of the system.
c) Draw a system RBD in terms of the system functions.
d) Specify the elements that comprise the system functions.
e) Draw a system RBD in terms of the system elements.
f) Simplify the RBD but if in doubt leave it; the analysis will still be correct.

Answers
1 𝜆 ≤ 0.00035 failures per week
2 0.999992
3 0.8324
4 (a) 0.726, 0.959, (b) 0.926, (c) 3667 h
5 (b) 0.9995, 0.9893
6 (b) 0.367, 0.878, (c) 0.322
7 -

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