Quantitative reliability analysis of repairable systems with closed-loop feedback based on GO methodology

This paper presents a quantitative reliability analysis method for repairable systems with two-input closed-loop feedback (TICLF) based on GO methodology. First, a new function operator, which is used to represent TICLF, is created and named Type 24B operator, and its accurate and approximate quantification formulas are derived based on Markov process theory, respectively. Second, exact algorithm with shared signal of GO method for repairable systems with TICLF is proposed. Then, the new GO method is applied to conduct the quantitative reliability analysis of a hydraulic steering system of a heavy vehicle. Finally, the result is compared with those of fault tree analysis, Monte Carlo simulation and GO method using serial structure to represent closed-loop feedback. The comparison results show that the new GO method is advantageous and feasible for the reliability analysis of repairable systems with TICLF. It also shows the advantage of GO model. All in all, this study not only solves the limitations of existing GO method, which is only suitable for the open-loop system, but it also provides guidance for reliability analysis of repairable systems with closed-loop feedback.