Optimal Reliability Equivalence Factor for Reliability System Improvement Using Memetic Algorithm

In this paper, optimal reduction and redundancy methods for reliability system improvement have been proposed. Multilevel redundancy allocation problem (MLRAP) based on hot and cold redundancies has been considered. For various reasons, for instance, space limitation, high cost and so on, redundancy method cannot always be applied to improve system reliability. Hence, the concept of equivalence has been presented to choose a more suitable method. In these conditions, optimal reduction method has been applied instead of optimal redundancy method, so that we decide what appropriate degree to decrease the failure rate is. To solve this problem, the value of optimal reliability equivalence factor is obtained by equating two obtained reliability functions based on optimal redundancy and reduction methods. Result shows that equivalence value maximizes the efficiency of the system performance in reduction method instead of redundancy method. Finally, the numerical examples illustrate the results obtained theoret...