AN INHOMOGENOUS STATE GRAPH MODEL AND APPLICATION FOR A PHASED MISSION AND TOLERABLE DOWNTIME PROBLEM

This paper provides a modelling framework for the use of inhomogenous state graph techniques for components and systems, where the duration, any given group of states is assumed, may be limited by a given value . The behavior of this type of process, including discontinuities in t he transition rates, is elaborated in detail. This approach is useful e.g. to build component models with constant repair times, and to mode l systems with tolerable down times. An example for a problem involvin g tolerable down times and phases mission is provided. A systematic st ate graph approach applied to systems composed of several components a llows the treatment of dependencies between the components precisely, which may cause large conservatisms, if Boolean modelling technique is applied.