Some comparison results of system availability

System availability is a measure which is used to evaluate the performance of a system which can be in one of the two states: operational or nonoperational. It indicates the proportion of the time the system is available to perform its function. This paper discusses the concepts of stable point availability, stable interval availability, and long-run availability for the case of complete/minimal repair. Comparisons of these measures are made based on stochastic orderings and classifications of lifetime distributions. These comparisons are useful in determining policies for improving or maximizing the proportion of time the system is operational. The effect of using a burn-in procedure for maximizing these measures is also discussed. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 45: 205–218, 1998     

基于镜像的高可用数据对象布局算法

镜像是提高数据可用性的流行方法。借鉴RAID的方法,在算法一级实现数据的冗余分布,提出基于镜像的高可用数据对象布局算法。在数据对象和存储节点失效时,利用冗余数据重构数据对象和存储节点,有效保证存储系统的高可用性。采用马尔可夫激励模型对存储系统进行定量的可用性分析,计算结果表明该方法是有效的。     

A two-state system with partial availability in the failed state

A generalization of the alternating renewal model of a repairable system to permit partial availability in the failed state is introduced. It is shown how, by making use of an embedded alternating renewal process, we can readily derive expressions for various measures of system availability. Expressions for the point availability of the generalized process are presented.     

Estimating the point availability with right‐censored data

The point availability of a one‐unit system at a specified time is defined as the probability that the component is operating at that time. When both operating time and repair time are subject to random (right) censorship, we propose an asymptotic nonparametric approach for constructing confidence intervals for the point availability of the system. The technique is based on the fact that a product limit estimator converges to a Gaussian process. The method is also extended to finding confidence intervals for the point availability of a complex system using the δ‐Method. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 46: 119–127, 1999     

军用飞机可用度概念模型及仿真

使用可用度是军用飞机战备完好性的重要度量标准.运用传统的解析法计算使用可用度有其弊端.以军用飞机使用及维修保障过程中各个系统要素为基础建立了使用可用度概念模型;根据概念模型运用仿真软件Extend建立了仿真模型.仿真结果表明模型运行稳定可靠,模型中各模块算法合理有效,实现了模型解算目标,可信度高.从而为飞机可用度研究提供了一种新方法.     

Availability analysis of a two-unit series system with a priority shut-off rule

This study shows that the steady-state availability of a two-unit series system, which operates under a one-direction shut-off rule with a preemptive repair priority for unit 1, depends only on the first-order system parameters. First we obtain both transient and steady-state system availability and failure frequency when the lifetime of Unit 1 is Erlang and the other distributions are general. When the lifetime of Unit 1 is general, the system process has no regenerative point. Using supplementary variables, we establish a vector Markov process and hence transfer the problem to the solution of a system of integrodifferential equations. We can then obtain explicit formulas for the steady-state system availability and failure frequency, respectively. In concluding this article we make some conjectures on series systems and point out future research opportunities. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

An optimum multiechelon repair policy and stockage model

Currently, sophisticated multiechelon models compute stockage quantities for spares and repair parts that will minimize total inventory investment while achieving a target level of weapon system operational availability. The maintenance policies to be followed are input to the stockage models. The Optimum Allocation of Test Equipment/Manpower Evaluated Against Logistics (OATMEAL) model will determine optimum maintenance as well as stockage policies for a weapon system. Specifically, it will determine at which echelon each maintenance function should be performed, including an option for component or module throwaway. Test equipment requirements to handle work load at each echelon are simultaneously optimized. Mixed-integer programming (MIP) combined with a Lagrangian approach are used to do the constrained cost minimization, that is, to minimize all costs dependent on maintenance and stockage policies while achieving a target weapons system operational availability. Real-life test cases are included.     

On the reliability,availability and bayes confidence intervals for multicomponent systems

The problem of computing reliability and availability and their associated confidence limits for multi-component systems has appeared often in the literature. This problem arises where some or all of the component reliabilities and availabilities are statistical estimates (random variables) from test and other data. The problem of computing confidence limits has generally been considered difficult and treated only on a case-by-case basis. This paper deals with Bayes confidence limits on reliability and availability for a more general class of systems than previously considered including, as special cases, series-parallel and standby systems applications. The posterior distributions obtained are exact in theory and their numerical evaluation is limited only by computing resources, data representation and round-off in calculations. This paper collects and generalizes previous results of the authors and others. The methods presented in this paper apply both to reliability and availability analysis. The conceptual development requires only that system reliability or availability be probabilities defined in terms acceptable for a particular application. The emphasis is on Bayes Analysis and the determination of the posterior distribution functions. Having these, the calculation of point estimates and confidence limits is routine. This paper includes several examples of estimating system reliability and confidence limits based on observed component test data. Also included is an example of the numerical procedure for computing Bayes confidence limits for the reliability of a system consisting of N failure independent components connected in series. Both an exact and a new approximate numerical procedure for computing point and interval estimates of reliability are presented. A comparison is made of the results obtained from the two procedures. It is shown that the approximation is entirely sufficient for most reliability engineering analysis.     

考虑运行故障的工程安全设施使用检查可用度模型

使用检查是发现工程安全设施系统隐蔽功能故障的有效措施。在考虑检查期间可能发生运行故障的前提下，建立了基于使用检查策略的系统可用度模型。应用该模型对应急柴油发电机的使用检查过程进行可用度分析，确定了其最优检查问隔期和给定可用度条件下的检查间隔期区间；探讨了检查时间和维修时间对可用度的影响。研究表明，该模型对于工程安全设施系统的可用度分析是有效可行的，其结果能够为维修决策提供依据。     

Use of discounted force arrivals in static force comparisons

In traditional static comparisons of two opposing forces, weapons systems on each side are added together after weighting them according to a weapon scoring system. The scoring system does not reflect the availability times of the weapon systems in a perceived conflict. In this paper it is suggested how availability times can be incorporated by introducing the net present value of force arrival patterns. The concept is extended to include the case where uncertainty concerning warning time is reflected through a probability distribution for the time of outbreak of hostilities.     

有限维修能力下作战单元时变可用度评估模型

针对作战单元任务期内备件需求随任务阶段动态变化的现实情况,考虑作战单元因携行维修能力有限而导致可修件具有一定报废概率的影响,通过引入报废因子,建立两级保障体制下,故障件具有一定报废概率且不考虑外部补给的作战单元时变可用度评估模型。采用Extend Sim仿真软件进行计算,根据仿真值进行参数拟合得到模型中报废因子的近似解析表达形式。研究表明,报废因子能够适应不同的可靠性维修性参数值,模型具有较强的适应性。该模型有效解决了备件非平衡状态下的装备时变可用度评估问题,可为装备管理人员制定合理的保障方案提供支撑。     

“Government contracting options: A model and application“∗

This paper models and simulates a government‐contractor principal‐agent weapon system repair model. Insights are derived as to how government repair contracts should be constructed so as to induce optimal contractor behavior. The paper's general conclusion is that the best contracting approach combines a lump‐sum payment that does not vary with the number of units repaired, expensive item cost‐sharing, and a contractor‐provided availability guarantee. Provided there is intercontractor competition, this type of contract performs well even if the government is poorly informed about weapon system break patterns or repair costs.     

基于事件的系统可靠性参数仿真算法

介绍了可以用扩展可靠性框图表示的系统的可靠性参数的仿真算法。首先,对扩展可靠性框图进行了介绍,提出了利用树状结构来描述扩展可靠性框图的结构。其次,对基于扩展可靠性框图的系统行为进行了分析。然后,依据离散事件系统仿真思想,分别给出了计算可修系统可靠性参数的仿真算法与不可修系统可靠性参数的仿真算法。最后,给出了计算实例。该仿真算法不仅可以对状态独立系统进行可靠性参数计算,而且可以对具有冷储备关系以及冷储备嵌套关系的状态相关系统进行可靠性参数计算,具有很强的通用性与实用性。     

状态维修下通指装备可用度评估

随着监测诊断技术的发展,状态维修在通指装备维修中应用范围越来越广。根据系统模块之间的并联供求关系,以系统可用度求解为目标,建立多态串并联可控系统可用度精确求解模型。在对模型进行求解的过程中运用发生函数算法,对算法的运用范围进行拓展。实例结果证明评估模型的精确性,对于装备状态评估具有更强的指导性。     

基于Markov链的分布式仿真系统最佳检查点间隔研究

基于HLA的分布式仿真系统作为一类特殊的分布式系统,其容错一般基于回卷恢复实现,在回卷恢复中检查点间隔的不同会对系统性能产生很大的影响。分析了分布式仿真容错与一般分布式系统容错的异同,根据不同仿真进程对仿真结果的重要程度对其进行了分类,定义并利用Markov链分析了采用回卷恢复时分布式仿真系统的可用度,得到了系统最大可用度对应的检查点间隔的求解等式,通过一组试验数据验证了该最佳检查点间隔求解等式的正确性。     

强实时双系统中容错技术研究

在关键任务部门中 ,实时双系统的应用越来越广泛。如何保证高的可用度和高的响应时间是它们共同面临的问题。在本文中 ,全面论述了强实时双系统容错技术中的关键问题 ,包括系统结构定义、故障检测、状态切换。实际应用的结果表明 ,方案可以满足应用系统高可靠、强实时的需求 ,取得了良好的效果     

故障检查间隔期的简化计算方法

建立了定期故障检查策略下系统的可用度模型,在满足系统可用度要求的条件下,可以使用该模型确定故障检查工作的间隔期。为了简化故障检查间隔期的计算,给出了故障时间服从指数分布时,故障检查间隔期的上、下限计算公式及应用示例。     

有限维修能力下多级保障系统装备时变可用度评估及保障方案优化

备件库存和站点维修能力是影响备件维修周转的重要因素，制约装备使用效果。针对备件需求随任务阶段动态变化的装备保障方案评估和优化问题，考虑站点维修能力对备件维修过程的影响，结合METRIC建模方法和动态排队理论，建立了有限维修能力下多级保障系统装备时变可用度评估模型。在评估模型基础之上，以保障费用为优化目标，装备可用度为约束条件，建立了任务期内多级保障系统保障方案优化模型。以任务期内的最低可用度所对应的备件短缺数为观测值，分析了各项资源的边际效益值，采用边际优化算法对各项资源进行优化计算。算例分析表明，评估模型能够计算多级保障系统任务期内各阶段装备可用度；保障方案优化模型和方法能够得到各项保障资源的优化配置方案。提出的模型和优化方法能够为装备保障人员制定合理的保障方案提供决策支持。     

有限维修能力下多级保障系统装备时变可用度评估及保障方案优化

备件库存和站点维修能力是影响备件维修周转的重要因素,制约着装备的使用效果。针对备件需求随任务阶段动态变化时装备保障方案的评估和优化问题,考虑站点维修能力对备件维修过程的影响,结合METRIC建模方法和动态排队理论,建立了有限维修能力下多级保障系统装备时变可用度评估模型。在评估模型基础之上,以保障费用为优化目标、装备可用度为约束条件,建立任务期内多级保障系统保障方案优化模型。以任务期内的最低可用度所对应的备件短缺数为观测值,分析各项资源的边际效益值,采用边际优化算法对各项资源进行优化计算。算例分析表明,评估模型能够计算多级保障系统任务期内各阶段装备可用度;保障方案优化模型和方法能够得到各项保障资源的优化配置方案。提出的模型和优化方法能够为装备保障人员制订合理的保障方案提供决策支持。     

Structural properties of network revenue management models: An economic perspective

Many revenue management problems have a network aspect. In this paper, we argue that a network can be thought of as a system of substitutable and complementary products, and the value of a revenue management model should be supermodular or submodular in the availability of two resources as the resources are economic substitutes or complements. We demonstrate that this is true in the case of a two‐resource dynamic stochastic revenue management model and show how this applies for multi‐resource deterministic static revenue management models. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2006