On a possibilistic approach to reliability theory

The reliability functions introduced are possibilistic extensions of the classical probabilistic reliability function. In the past, the concept reliability of a system has been defined in a probabilistic way, while the systems could assume either one out of two possible states. Since 1978, the concept of multistate structure functions has been introduced to overcome the shortcomings of the binary approach. A system that is either completely functioning or totally failing is in many cases not quite realistic. Applying possibility theory instead of the classical probability theory provides reliability theory with new and important tools. These concepts make possible the modeling of the possibility of failure and functioning rather than the probability of failure and functioning, which is in many cases more difficult to estimate. Some basic theorems of a possibilistic approach to reliability theory are presented.<>