Reliability block

diagram

A reliability block diagram (RBD) is a diagrammatic method for showing how component
reliability contributes to the success or failure of a redundant. RBD is also known as a
dependence diagram (DD).

A reliability block diagram

An RBD is drawn as a series of blocks connected in parallel or series configuration. Parallel

blocks indicate redundant subsystems or components that contribute to a lower failure rate.
Each block represents a component of the system with a failure rate. RBDs will indicate the type
of redundancy in the parallel path.[1] For example, a group of parallel blocks could require two
out of three components to succeed for the system to succeed. By contrast, any failure along a
series path causes the entire series path to fail.[2][3]

An RBD may be drawn using switches in place of blocks, where a closed switch represents a
working component and an open switch represents a failed component. If a path may be found
through the network of switches from beginning to end, the system still works.

An RBD may be converted to a success tree or a fault tree depending on how the RBD is defined.
A success tree may then be converted to a fault tree or vice versa by applying de Morgan's
theorem.
To evaluate an RBD, closed form solutions are available when blocks or components have
statistical independence.

When statistical independence is not satisfied, specific formalisms and solution tools such as
dynamic RBD have to be considered.[4]

Calculating an RBD
The first thing one must determine when calculating an RBD is whether to use probability or rate.
Failure rates are often used in RBDs to determine system failure rates. Use probabilities or rates
in an RBD but not both.

Series probabilities are calculated by multiplying the reliability (a probability) of the series
components:

Parallel probabilities are calculated by multiplying the unreliability (Q) of the series components
where Q = 1 – R if only one unit needs to function for system success:

For constant failure rates, series rates are calculated by superimposing the Poisson point
processes of the series components:

Parallel rates can be evaluated using a number of formulas including this formula[5] for all units
active with equal component failure rates. n − q out of n redundant units are required for
success. μ >> λ
If the components in a parallel system have n different failure rates a more general formula can
be used as follows. For the repairable model Q = λ/μ as long as .

See also

ARP4761
Block diagram
Reliability engineering
System safety
Fault tree analysis
References

1. Electronic Design Handbook, MIL-HDBK-

338B, October 1, 1998

2. Mohammad Modarres; Mark Kaminskiy;

Vasiliy Krivtsov (1999). "4" (https://books.g
oogle.com/books?id=IZ5VKc-Y4_4C&pg=P
A198) (pdf). Reliability Engineering and
Risk Analysis: A Practical Guide. Ney York,
NY: Marcel Decker, Inc. p. 198. ISBN 978-0-
8247-2000-1. Retrieved 2010-03-16.

3. "6.4 Reliability Modeling and Prediction".

Electronic Reliability Design Handbook (http
s://web.archive.org/web/2011072222260
1/https://assist.daps.dla.mil/quicksearch/b
asic_profile.cfm?ident_number=54022) . B.
 U.S. Department of Defense. 1998. MIL–
HDBK–338B. Archived from the original (htt
ps://assist.daps.dla.mil/quicksearch/basic_
profile.cfm?ident_number=54022) (pdf) on
2011-07-22. Retrieved 2010-03-16.

4. Salvatore Distefano, Antonio Puliafito.

"Dependability Evaluation with Dynamic
Reliability Block Diagrams and Dynamic
Fault Trees." (https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/do
cument/4385723) IEEE Trans Dependable
Sec. Comput. 6(1): 4–17 (2009)

5. Electronic Design Handbook, MIL-HDBK-

338B, October 1, 1998
External links

http://www.reliabilityeducation.com/rbd.
pdf (commercial website)
Institut pour la Maîtrise des Risques,
method sheets, english version (http://w
ww.imdr.fr/submitted/document_site/M
ethod_sheets_EN_343.pdf)

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