An explicit hierarchical dynamic reliability approach for heterogeneous systems

This paper introduces a model for dynamical reliability parameters assessment based on Bayesian methodology, which can be applied, with a good approximation, either for serial, parallel or mixt subsystems configurations. The failure data for component, subcomponent or elements are included in posterior distributions, enabling the extrapolation of failure parameters to similar entities in related systems. The validation of the effective and flexible event-based model of complex systems reliability indices is validated analytically and by numerical simulation.