Bayesian reliability demonstration for systems with redundancy

Abstract: Zero-failure testing for Bayesian reliability demonstration (BRD) is studied, aiming at minimal expected costs of testing and process failure. For the process after testing, reliability is formulated in terms of failure-free periods, based on the assumption that failure in the process would be catastrophic, causing the process to be discontinued and incurring high costs. BRD is considered for systems with redundancy, which are required to perform multiple independent types of task. Optimal BRD testing is also considered in combination with flexibility in the system redundancy, where more components can be installed to reduce test effort. Attention is restricted to systems with exchangeable components, with testing only at the component level. Generalizations are briefly discussed at the end of this paper