Reliability theory

Abstract

Devices are of little use to us if they do not function properly, but whether they will function or not is subjected to uncertainty. Reliability theory studies the failure laws, i.e. constructs models and reasons with the chance that a device is functioning. Once we have obtained such models, we can take the reliability aspects into account during the design process. This chapter introduces basics of mathematical reliability theory with emphasis on how can the reliability depend on design parameters.