SYSLEB-a tool for the calculation of the system reliability from raw failure data

In this paper, several methods are presented for the calculation of the system reliability also considering preventive maintenance actions. Additionally, the authors present the concept of importance, which allows to determine the influence of a component failure on the system failure. In a case study, the three steps for the system reliability analysis of a single-step gearing are shown. It is demonstrated how to receive the reliability function of components from failure data or from calculations respectively. Within the calculation, the B₁₀ lifetime is determined by means of the damage accumulation hypothesis, especially for the pinion, the gear and the ball bearings. Afterwards a database is used to determine the parameters of the three-parameter Weibull distribution. As a result, the authors received the system reliability of an analyzed gearing. The reliability tool SYSLEB was used for the evaluation of the failure data of the radial shaft seals. Additionally, the reliability functions for the components as well as for the system were determined by applying SYSLEB. It was shown that the system reliability could be increased by improving the pinion and the gear to avoid breakage. For this purpose preventive maintenance actions could also be applied