Method of Calculating A Priori Reliability of Elements of Complex System

The method for calculation of a posteriori failure-free operating time of a complex technical system based on the data on failures of system elements is proposed. This method allows one to identify groups of elements, the increasing of a priori reliability of which can lead to an increasing of the reliability of the system during the selected time interval. The method is illustrated by the calculation of the example of the car steering system. The proposed method could be applied to any complex systems for which the composition of the elements and the kinematic scheme of their interactions are known.