Reliability

It is defined as the probability that a given system will perform it’s function adequately for it’s specified period of lifetime under specified operating conditions.

Common measures are :

1. Failure rate.

2. Mean time between failures(MTBF)

3. Survival percentage.

Failure Rate:

Rate which components of population fail.

R(t)=N_s(t)/N_f(t)

Where,

N_s(t)- No. of components that survived during time ’t’

N_f(t) – No. of failures that occurred during the same time.

Mean time between Failures(MTBF):

The reciprocal of the failure rate(1/λ).

Where

λ —-Failure rate.

Failure rate = (No.of failure )/(Time period during all components were exposed to failure)

 

Reliability Analysis:

Failure Mode and Effect Analysis(FMEA)

Purpose :

1. To recommend design changes.

2. To identify design weakness.

3. To help in choosing alternatives.

Four Stages:

I^st Stage – System boundaries and the scope of the analysis is decided.

II^nd Stage – Data Collection

Ex: Specification,Operating Procedure,Working Conditions.

III^rd Stage– Preparing the component or parts list.

IV^th Stage – Failure frequency and the functions of the part identified,causes of       failures,Failure detection.