Reliability Testing of Complex Systems via Hierarchical Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for testing the reliability of complex systems are often overly stringent and may overlook potential risks, leading to conservative estimates of system availability and an overestimation of failure risks, requiring extensive testing efforts to achieve statistically reliable results.
Innovation Solution
A method that allocates availability targets to components using a heuristic approach, focusing on qualitative assessment and prioritizing tests based on criticality and novelty, allowing for a hierarchical decomposition of the system to minimize testing efforts while ensuring sufficient reliability, using projected availability to aggregate failure mode-related values for overall system availability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional statistical testing methods are used to obtain reliable availability estimates, then statistical reliability is improved, but testing effort and time are excessively increased
Solution Approach 1:
The system is decomposed into a hierarchical structure with multiple levels (system level, component level, subcomponent level). Availability targets are allocated recursively from the system level down to individual components. This segmentation allows testing efforts to be focused on critical components rather than requiring exhaustive testing of all system elements, thereby reducing overall testing time while maintaining statistical reliability through targeted testing of high-impact components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the testing approach by changing from uniform statistical testing of all components to risk-based differential testing. Availability targets are converted into risk parameters that guide testing intensity. Components are tested according to their allocated availability targets and identified failure modes, allowing critical components to receive more testing resources while non-critical components require minimal testing, thus optimizing the balance between statistical reliability and testing effort.
2Reliability
If testing procedures are designed to demonstrate predetermined lifetime, then lifetime prognosis is improved, but test stringency becomes excessive and potential risks are overlooked
Solution Approach 1:
Availability targets are allocated to components before testing begins, based on system-level requirements and component criticality analysis. This preliminary allocation guides the design of testing procedures, ensuring that tests are tailored to specific component needs rather than applying uniform stringent protocols. The preliminary identification of failure modes and their associated risks allows testing to be focused on the most critical aspects, improving lifetime prognosis without unnecessary complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The testing approach is made dynamic by adapting test procedures to the specific availability targets and failure modes of each component. Rather than applying static uniform testing protocols, the patent enables flexible adjustment of testing intensity and focus based on component criticality and identified risks. This dynamic approach allows the testing program to concentrate resources on areas that most impact lifetime prognosis while avoiding excessive complexity in testing non-critical components.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for testing the reliability of complex systems, and includes the evaluation and optimization of the availability of such systems.