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General Formula of Reliability

This document discusses key terms related to reliability, including: 1. Failure rate (λ(t)) represents the probability of failure in a small time interval, given survival up to that time. 2. Failure probability density function (f(t)) represents the probability of failure in a small time interval unconditionally. 3. Reliability (R(t)) represents the probability of surviving up to time t. It is related to failure rate and failure density function by equations 2.1 and 2.2. 4. For a constant failure rate, the reliability over time is expressed by equation 2.4 as R(t) = e-λt. The mean time between failures

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Muhammad Reza Pradecta
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229 views

General Formula of Reliability

This document discusses key terms related to reliability, including: 1. Failure rate (λ(t)) represents the probability of failure in a small time interval, given survival up to that time. 2. Failure probability density function (f(t)) represents the probability of failure in a small time interval unconditionally. 3. Reliability (R(t)) represents the probability of surviving up to time t. It is related to failure rate and failure density function by equations 2.1 and 2.2. 4. For a constant failure rate, the reliability over time is expressed by equation 2.4 as R(t) = e-λt. The mean time between failures

Uploaded by

Muhammad Reza Pradecta
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Understanding terms and jargon 15

2.3 INTERRELATIONSHIPS OF TERMS


Returning to the model in Figure 2.2, consider the probability of an item failing in the interval
between t and t  dt. This can be described in two ways:

1. The probability of failure in the interval t to t  dt given that it has survived until time t
which is

(t) dt

where (t) is the failure rate.

2. The probability of failure in the interval t to t  dt unconditionally, which is

f(t) dt

where f (t) is the failure probability density function.

The probability of survival to time t has already been defined as the reliability, R(t). The rule
of conditional probability therefore dictates that:

f (t) dt
(t) dt 
R(t)

Therfore

f (t)
(t)  (2.1)
R(t)

However, if f (t) is the probability of failure in dt then:

f (t) dt  probability of failure 0 to t  1  R(t)


t

Differentiating both sides:

dR(t)
f (t)   (2.2)
dt

Substituting equation (2.2) into equation (2.1),

dR(t) 1
(t)  
dt R(t)

Therefore integrating both sides:


t R(t)
 (t) dt  dR(t)/R(t)
0 1
16 Reliability, Maintainability and Risk

A word of explanation concerning the limits of integration is required. (t) is integrated


with respect to time from 0 to t. 1/R(t) is, however, being integrated with respect to R(t).
Now, when t  0, R(t)  1 and at t the reliability R(t) is, by definition, R(t). Integrating
then:


R(t)
t
 (t) dt  log e R(t)
0

1
 log e R(t)  log e1
 log e R(t)

But if a  eb then b  loge a, so that:

R(t)  exp  (t) dt t

0
(2.3)

If failure rate is now assumed to be constant:


t
R(t)  exp  (t) dt  exp t
t

0
(2.4)

Therefore R(t)  e t

In order to find the MTBF consider Figure 2.3 again. Let N  K, the number surviving at t,
be Ns(t). Then R(t)  Ns(t)/N.
In each interval dt the time accumulated will be Ns(t) dt. At infinity the total will be

N (t) dt
0

s

Hence the MTBF will be given by:

 Ns(t)

0 N
dt
 R(t) dt
0

 R(t) dt

0
(2.5)

This is the general expression for MTBF and always holds. In the special case of R(t)  et then

 e t

0
dt

1
 (2.6)


Note that inverting failure rate to obtain MTBF, and vice versa, is valid only for the constant
failure rate case.

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