Introduction to Reliability Engineering - Probabilistic Reliability

5 important questions on Introduction to Reliability Engineering - Probabilistic Reliability

Concept of reliability as a probablity

Any attempt to quantify must involve statistical methods.

Why does quantifying numbers increase uncertainty?

  • More information needed
  • Varying environments
    • creators of product
    • consumers of product
  • Subjectivity in classifications of failures by engineers

How is reliability quantified?

Basic outcomes:
  • Reliability
    • 0-1 (1 being desirable)
  • Failure
    • 0-1 (0 being desirable)


Specifying reliability:
  • Failure rate
    • mean number of failures in a given time
  • MTBF (mean time between failures)
    • for items which are repaired and returned to use
  • MTTF (mean time to failure)
    • for items which are not repaired
  • Proportion of total population of items failing during the mission life
  • Higher grades + faster learning
  • Never study anything twice
  • 100% sure, 100% understanding
Discover Study Smart

What is a limitation statistical distrbution concerning reliability?

Reliability concerns the behaviour in the extreme tails of the distribution and possibly unlikely combinations of load and strength.
  • Variability hard to quantify
  • Data expensive

What is a limitation of statistical variation concernign reliability?

Often function of time or time-related functions such as:
  • Operating cycles
  • Diurnal or seasonal cycles
  • Maintenance period
  • AND SO ON


Reliabilty data from past cannot be used for forecasts of future behaviour without taking into account non-statistical factors such as:
  • Design changes
  • Maintainer training
  • Unforeseeable problems in
    • production
    • service

The question on the page originate from the summary of the following study material:

  • A unique study and practice tool
  • Never study anything twice again
  • Get the grades you hope for
  • 100% sure, 100% understanding
Remember faster, study better. Scientifically proven.
Trustpilot Logo