Optimal 'series-parallel' networks of 3-state devices

A 3-state component is one which can fall in two different modes: an open mode and a shorted mode. Systems built from such components can also experience either of these two failure modes. For a given number of s-identical s-independent components, a pure 'series' or pure 'parallel' configuration would be most reliable if only one of the two failure modes were possible. This paper treats the problem of designing the most reliable configuration of a given number of s-identical components that can experience both failure modes. Two simple algorithms for designing an optimal configuration are presented, and by analysis of 6, 8, and 20-component systems they illustrate the extent to which other configurations can be more reliable than 'series-parallel' or 'parallel-series' arrays.<
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