Citation

Janan X. Reliab. Eng. 1985; 10(4): 245-256.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1985, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/0143-8174(85)90008-3

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Binary algebra is extended to multiple-valued algebra, based on which a new approach to multistate system analysis is proposed. Series and parallel structure functions in binary cases are extended to multistate cases. Instead of a binary fault tree, state trees are suggested to be the graphical representations of a multistate system. With the multiple-valued algebra developed in this paper, the multistate system, of which the basic structure forms are series and parallel, can be dealt with conveniently. As applications of the algebra and methodology, two multistate systems are analysed: (1) a multistate system which is composed of two-failed mode components and (2) a special multistate system which can be in a range of performance levels. A method of calculating the system state probability is presented.