Reliability analysis of the bulk cargo transportation system with independent and dependent redundancy of its components

In the paper an approach to the reliability analysis of multistate systems and their redundancy is presented. First, basic notions concerned with reliability analysis of the ageing multistate systems are introduced. The system risk function and the moment of the system exceeding the critical reliability state are defined. The multistate series system with hot single reserve of its components is analyzed and its reliability function is determined. Moreover, we consider two types of redundancy, when basic and reserve system components are independent and second case when basic and reserve system components are dependent according equal load sharing rule. In such model of dependency the increased load is shared equally between basic and reserve components. Presented theoretical results are applied practically in maritime transport to the reliability analysis of a bulk cargo loading system. Basic reliability and risk characteristics of the bulk cargo transportation system are determined and compared with results obtained in case of independent and dependent redundancy.