RBD IN DESIGN AND COST

Reliability Block Diagram

 Reliability Block Diagram
RBD is a diagrammatic representation for showing how components
reliability contributes to the overall success or failure of a complex system.

A RBD is represented as a series of blocks connected in parallel or series

arrangement. Each block represents a component of the system with a
reliability factor.

Any failure along a series arrangement causes the entire series path to fail.
Correspondingly, in a Parallel arrangement, all of the parallel paths must
fail for the parallel network to fail.

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.
 Series RBD Example
Consider the power train of a
motor car, comprising engine
(e), gearbox and drive links
(g), and two wheels (w1, w2).
A failure of any element
results in failure of the system.
 Formula for RBD

Formula for Series Configuration

RS=R1*R2Rn

Formula for Parallel Configuration

RS=1-(1-R1)(1-R2)(1-Rn)
Combination of Series and Parallel
Example for Series

0.8 0.9 0.8

0.576
Example for Series-Parallel

0.8 0.6
0.9
0.8 0.9

0.9 0.6

0.8

0.9 0.9
Example for Series-Parallel (contd.)

0.8 0.98 0.9 0.84 0.9 0.784 0.756 0.9

0.8 0.8

0.81 0.81

0.688
0.756

0.8
 RBD in Design and Cost
Case A
Consider a system comprising of certain number of components and each
has their own reliability factor and their corresponding cost as shown
below.
Rs. 400
Rs. 500 Rs. 200
0.6
0.9 0.7
0.6
Rs. 400

Therefore, the overall reliability of the system is 0.53 and overall cost is Rs.
(500+400+400+200)=Rs.1500.
 RBD in Design and Cost
Case B
Consider a system comprising of certain number of components and each
has their own reliability factor and their corresponding cost as shown
below.
Rs. 400
Rs. 500 Rs. 300
0.6
0.9 0.8
0.6
Rs. 400

Therefore, the overall reliability of the system is 0.61 and overall cost is Rs.
(500+400+400+300)=Rs.1600.
 RBD in Design and Cost
Case C
Now, if we add another parallel component in the system to increase the
overall reliability of the system.

Rs. 400 Rs. 200

Rs. 500
0.6 0.7
0.9
0.6 0.7
Rs. 400 Rs. 200

Therefore, the new overall reliability factor changes to 0.69 with overall
costing of the system to be Rs.1700.
 RBD in Design and Cost
Case D
Now, if we replace the existing component with a new component of 0.8
reliability factor, the overall reliability of the system becomes
Rs. 400 Rs. 200
Rs. 500
0.6 0.7
0.9
0.6 0.8
Rs. 400 Rs. 300

The overall reliability of the system becomes 0.71 with overall costing of
the system to be Rs.1800.
 RBD in Design and Cost
Case E
Now, if we replace the existing component with a new component of
another reliability factor, the overall reliability of the system becomes
Rs. 400 Rs. 300
Rs. 500
0.6 0.8
0.9
0.6 0.8
Rs. 400 Rs. 300

The overall reliability of the system becomes 0.73 with overall costing of
the system to be Rs.1900.
 Data Table

Case Reliability factor Cost Selling Price

A 0.53 1500 1800
B 0.61 1600 2000
C 0.69 1700 2200
D 0.71 1800 2250
E 0.73 1900 2300

Thus, from the above table, one can select their respective configuration.