Chapter - 6 Conclusions

124
CHAPTER – 6
CONCLUSIONS
5.1 Summary and Conclusions:
‘Optimization’ quite often is associated almost exclusively with the
use of mathematical techniques to model and analyze decision problems
and these mathematical and stochastic models are usually tailored to fit
into specific real life problems. A known fact is that it is difficult to
conceive a model that reflects the reality as close as possible and
simultaneously simple for analysis. For this reason, different models
each representing one or more problem situations are developed. During
the past three decades a substantial body of literature has been
developed on reliability models.
Until recently not much of work is reported on integrated reliability
models and in particular on the integrated reliability models for
redundant systems. Almost all the models that are reported primarily
considered cost as the basic constraint in order to optimize the reliability
of a system. Further to the best knowledge of the author the integrated

125
reliability models for redundant systems with multiple constraints (i.e.
.cost, weight, volume etc.,) are not reported, which prompted to consider
a class of integrated reliability models with redundancy where multiple
constraints are considered to optimize the models under consideration,
which is perhaps a novel beginning in the mentioned area of research.
Primarily the basic concepts of reliability systems with different types
with their applications and also the different methods to maximize the
reliability of a system are detailed in first chapter.
second chapter is completely devoted for a comprehensive literature
survey of the basic models, which authenticates that only scanty
literature is available on the integrated reliability models. The survey
work is carried out on optimization techniques for system reliability
models by classifying the models under system configuration,
optimization techniques and by the structure of the optimization
problems. The survey of literature authenticates that a very few research
papers advocated the fact that integrated reliability models for redundant
systems with multiple constraints can be studied and this prompted the
author to initiate the work in this direction.
In third chapter the integrated reliability models for redundant
systems with multiple constraints for the four commonly used
mathematical functions are established by using Lagrangian method
approach where component reliabilities (rj) and the number of
components (xj) in each stage are treated as unknowns. The system
reliability(Rs) is to be maximized for the given cost, weight and volume by
determining the component reliabilities(rj) and the number of

126
components required for each stage(xj).The system considered in this
series-parallel system with multiple constraints on cost, weight and
volume and by applying the Lagrangian method, the different
characteristics of the model namely component reliabilities(rj), number of
components(xj), stage reliabilities(Rj) and the system reliability(Rs) are
established for the given cost, weight and volume constraints.
At this stage a bottleneck is observed as the number of components
required at each stage (xj), is found to be in real value numbers, which is
practically infeasible for real life applications. The author rounded off the
values of xj to the nearest integer and recalculated the characteristics of
the models. The procedure leads to the inference that by rounding off the
values of xj , the system reliability(Rs) is increased as there is increase in
the cost of the system and this analogy is found in all the four case
problems. The rounding off the values of xj) may not be in the passion of
a sound analytic procedure and hence the author processes alternative
procedures to optimize the integrated reliability models i.e., integer
programming and heuristic approach, which are detailed in chapter four
and five.
The integrated reliability models for redundant systems with
multiple constraints for the four mathematical functions that are
considered in chapter three are analyzed by applying the integer
programming in chapter four. For the analysis purpose the values of the
component reliabilities rj , are taken from Lagrangian method approach
as input to carry out the integer programming analysis and this
procedure is adopted for the four integrated reliability models under

127
study. The advantage of integer programming is that the number of
components required for each stage (xj) directly gives an integer value
along with the other values of the parameters, which is very convenient
for practical implementation for the real life problems.
The integrated reliability models for redundant systems with multiple
constraints for the four mathematical functions that are considered in
chapter three are analyzed by applying the heuristic approach in chapter
five. For the analysis purpose the values of the component reliabilities rj,
are taken from Lagrangian method approach as input to carry out the
heuristic approach analysis and this procedure is adopted for the four
integrated reliability models under study. The advantage of this heuristic
approach is that the number of components required for each stage (xj)
directly gives an integer value along with the other values of the
parameters, which is very convenient for practical implementation for the
real life problems.
6.2 Scope for future work:
The Author in this work proposed a class of integrated reliability
models for redundant systems with multiple constraints as a beginning
in the mentioned area of research and initiated the optimizing the system
reliability for the said models under two different approaches and the
results reported in the work is highly useful for the reliability design
engineers for successful implementation for the models which helps to
produce high reliable and quality goods and the models are established
for the series-parallel reliable configuration systems. These models can
also be further investigated for different mathematical functions of

128
interest and can be applied for parallel-series configuration systems,
where the application of these models for such systems will be feasible
only when the cost of the system is very low. The author is of the opinion
that the stated problem can be investigated under the scope of study.
REFERENCES
1. Balaguruswamy.E., “Reliability Engineering” ,TMH,1991.(Text
book)
2. Sinha.S.K., “Reliability Engineering”, PHI,1985.(Text book)
3. Srinath.L.S., “Reliability Engineering”, Affiliated East-West press
Pvt.Ltd.,1991.(Text book)
4. Caplen Rowland, “A practical approach to reliability”, Business
books Limited, 1972.(text book)
5. Taha.H.A, “Operations Reserch”, PHI, 2007.(Text book)
6. Rao.S.S.. “Engineering Optimization Theory and Practice”, New Age
International (P) Ltd., Publishers, New Delhi,1996.(Text book)
7. Aggarwal.K.K, Misra.K.B. and Gupta.J.S, “A fast algorithm for
reliability evaluation” , IEEE Transactions on Reliability, Vol.R-
24, No.1, April 1975, pp 83-85.
8. Aggarwal.K.K, Gupta.J.S, Gupta.J.S and Misra.K.B. “A new
heuristic criterion for solving a redundancy optimization problem”,
IEEE Transactions on Reliability, Vol.R-24, No.1, April 1975, PP

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124

‘Optimization’ quite often is associated almost exclusively with the

use of mathematical techniques to model and analyze decision problems

into specific real life problems. A known fact is that it is difficult to

conceive a model that reflects the reality as close as possible and

simultaneously simple for analysis. For this reason, different models

each representing one or more problem situations are developed. During

the past three decades a substantial body of literature has been

developed on reliability models.

Until recently not much of work is reported on integrated reliability

models and in particular on the integrated reliability models for

considered cost as the basic constraint in order to optimize the reliability

of a system. Further to the best knowledge of the author the integrated

reliability models for redundant systems with multiple constraints (i.e.

a class of integrated reliability models with redundancy where multiple

constraints are considered to optimize the models under consideration,

which is perhaps a novel beginning in the mentioned area of research.

Primarily the basic concepts of reliability systems with different types

reliability of a system are detailed in first chapter.

second chapter is completely devoted for a comprehensive literature

survey of the basic models, which authenticates that only scanty

literature is available on the integrated reliability models. The survey

work is carried out on optimization techniques for system reliability

models by classifying the models under system configuration,

optimization techniques and by the structure of the optimization

problems. The survey of literature authenticates that a very few research

author to initiate the work in this direction.

In third chapter the integrated reliability models for redundant

systems with multiple constraints for the four commonly used

mathematical functions are established by using Lagrangian method

approach where component reliabilities (rj) and the number of

components (xj) in each stage are treated as unknowns. The system

reliability(Rs) is to be maximized for the given cost, weight and volume by

determining the component reliabilities(rj) and the number of

components required for each stage(xj).The system considered in this

series-parallel system with multiple constraints on cost, weight and

volume and by applying the Lagrangian method, the different

characteristics of the model namely component reliabilities(rj), number of

components(xj), stage reliabilities(Rj) and the system reliability(Rs) are

established for the given cost, weight and volume constraints.

At this stage a bottleneck is observed as the number of components

required at each stage (xj), is found to be in real value numbers, which is

values of xj to the nearest integer and recalculated the characteristics of

values of xj , the system reliability(Rs) is increased as there is increase in

a sound analytic procedure and hence the author processes alternative

procedures to optimize the integrated reliability models i.e., integer

programming and heuristic approach, which are detailed in chapter four

The integrated reliability models for redundant systems with

multiple constraints for the four mathematical functions that are

considered in chapter three are analyzed by applying the integer

component reliabilities rj , are taken from Lagrangian method approach

as input to carry out the integer programming analysis and this

procedure is adopted for the four integrated reliability models under

study. The advantage of integer programming is that the number of

for practical implementation for the real life problems.

The integrated reliability models for redundant systems with multiple

constraints for the four mathematical functions that are considered in

chapter three are analyzed by applying the heuristic approach in chapter