Reliability modeling of systems with latent failures using Markov chains

The authors describe modeling methods for the different types of SM (scheduled maintenance) systems. They formalize the concepts of SM checks and conditional maintenance checks, and develop a methodology to analyze systems which employ SM. They formulate an algorithm for aggregating these techniques. A tool developed using this algorithm, HARP-SMS, is based on the Hybrid Automated Reliability Predictor. An example for proving the aptness of the techniques considered is discussed. It is proved that the existing Markov techniques are unable to model a SM system which undergoes multiple missions with several maintenance checks