Mechanical system reliability analysis using reliability matrix method

Abstract

Mechanical systems, including building ones, consist of a huge number of elements. Thus, traditional methods of reliability block diagram and logical schemes, oriented to small-element systems, aren't appropriate for reliability analysis. In this paper a fundamentally new method for reliability assessment of mechanical systems is considered. It's based on the reliability matrix. The reliability matrix is the difference between the characteristic matrix and the connection matrix, which are formed from the structural scheme. Probability of failure or probability of success of the system is equal to determinant of the reliability matrix. The use of the matrix method proposed by the authors in conjunction with computer software has more perspective, it allows to work with complex mechanical systems, significantly reduces the time of analysis and decrease the risk of errors. This method of calculation is optimized for inclusion in Civil Engineering CAD software.