An implicit method for incorporating common-cause failures insystem analysis

摘要

A general procedure incorporates common-cause (CC) failures intonsystem analysis by an implicit method; i.e., after first solving thensystem probability equation without CC failures. Components of subsetsnare assumed to be equally vulnerable to CC of any particularnmultiplicity. The method allows for age-dependent hazard rates,nrepairable and nonrepairable components, systems with multiple CCngroups, and systems where not all components are statistically-identicalnor subject to CC failures. Key equations are given both for reliabilitynblock-diagrams and fault-trees (success and failure models), consideringnthe system reliability, availability and failure intensity functions.nInitial failures and certain human errors are included, mainly fornstandby-system applications. The implicit method can dramaticallynsimplify the Boolean manipulation and quantification of fault trees.nPossible limitations and extensions are discussed