The system reliability of a ''j or more paths required system'' can be
obtained from the probability that there is no minimal path suffering
a short-mode failure and there is at least one set of j separate path
s not suffering an open-mode failure. In order to evaluate the system
reliability, we use the method of generating the sum of disjoint produ
cts, which is widely used for two-state systems. Some rules and a proc
edure for the minimized reliability formula are presented. Copyright (
C) 1966 Elsevier Science Ltd.