Title: Availability optimisation and selection of performance parameters of complex repairable system using PSO

Authors: Ajay Kumar; Devender Singh Punia

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Deen Bandhu Chotu Ram University of Science and Technology, Murthal, Sonepat, Haryana, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Deen Bandhu Chotu Ram University of Science and Technology, Murthal, Sonepat, Haryana, India

Abstract: This research paper presents a numerical technique for the computation of availability and reliability metrics as well as the Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF), pertaining to a thread rolling machine. Seven repaired sub-systems are studied under this system, namely: motor, hopper feeder, fixed die block, movable die block, drive belt, coolant and lubricant unit, and control panel are arranged in order. The performance of system considered is analysed based on the Markov approach and assumes that the Failure and Repair Rate (FRR) of each sub-system follows a normal distribution. The decision support system is developed for achieving the maximum availability of system. The comparison between particle swarm optimisation and the Markov process is done to achieve optimum availability. The results are compared with other optimisation approaches and the optimised availability using PSO is calculated as 96.24% while it is 95.08% using the Markov method. The particle swarm optimisation algorithm sustains a wide range of different component performance indicators for optimising system availability goals as well as various performance parameters.

Keywords: availability; SSA; steady state analysis; particle swarm optimisation; reliability; TSA; transient state analysis; MTBF; mean time between failure; FRR; failure and repair rates.

DOI: 10.1504/IJRS.2025.143763

International Journal of Reliability and Safety, 2025 Vol.19 No.1, pp.60 - 82

Received: 28 Sep 2023
Accepted: 28 Feb 2024
Published online: 06 Jan 2025 *