Title: Mechatronic system reliability modelling and analysis: a graph theoretic approach

Authors: C. Phaneendra Kiran; Shibu Clement; V.P. Agrawal

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, BITS-Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, Jawahar Nagar, Shameerpet Mandal, Hyderabad 500078, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, BITS-Pilani, KK Birla Goa campus, Zuari Nagar, Goa 403726, India ' Mechanical Engineering Department, Thapar University, P.O. Box 32, Patiala, Punjab 147004, India

Abstract: This paper presents a unique systems approach for reliability modelling analysis of a mechatronic system. As a first step, a reliability graph, which is useful in visual analysis of reliability interactions among the mechatronic subsystems, is developed. Information stored in this graph is quantified and exported to a reliability variable permanent matrix and finally to a function named Mechatronic Variable Permanent Reliability Function (MVPRF). Reliability analysis of mechatronic systems is done on the basis of MVPRF. A reliability index based on the MVPRF is proposed for reliability evaluation. Coefficient of similarity and dissimilarity useful for a designer in structure and reliability-based comparison of mechatronic systems is proposed. This methodology would be useful for a designer to conduct structure-based reliability analysis of a mechatronic system and also for a maintenance engineer to monitor the health condition of mechatronic system during the service period. The proposed methodology is explained with the help of an illustrative example.

Keywords: mechatronics; reliability evaluation; graph theory; reliability index; reliability interactions; reliability modelling; mechatronic systems; maintenance engineering; condition monitoring.

DOI: 10.1504/IJRS.2013.056377

International Journal of Reliability and Safety, 2013 Vol.7 No.2, pp.128 - 155

Accepted: 01 Oct 2012
Published online: 20 Sep 2014 *

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