System Reliability Analysis for Planar Mechanisms Using the Matrix Method

In this paper, a practical technique for system reliability evaluation of kinematic performance of planar linkages with correlated failure modes is proposed. Taylor series expansion is utilized to derive a general expression of the kinematic performance errors caused by random design variables. A practical limit state function for reliability analysis of the kinematic performance of planar linkages corresponding to different failure models is established. Through the reliability theory and the linear programming method the upper and lower bounds of the system reliability of planar mechanisms are provided.