Introduction

Before…
• Probability Functions Representing
Reliability
– Reliability Function
– CDF and PDF
– Hazard Function
• Summary Statistics of Reliability
– Expected Life (Mean time to failure)
– Median Life, Bα Life and Mode

Next…
What are the probability models useful
in describing a failure process?
– Exponential Distribution
– Weibull Distribution
– Normal Distribution
– Lognormal Distribution
1
 Constant Failure Rate Model

 Exponential Distribution

Overview
1. Probability Functions

2. MTTF, Variance and Median

3. Memoryless (Lack-of-Memory) Property

4. Applications

2
 Exponential Distribution

• Plays a central role in reliability

• The only continuous distribution

with CFR (Constant Failure Rate)
(The only discrete distribution with
the memoryless property is the
geometric distribution)

• One of the easiest distribution to

analyze statistically

3
Probability Functions

Constant Failure Rate:

 0
Hazard Function:

h(t )  
Reliability Function:

R(t)  e  λt

Cumulative Distribution Function:

F(t)  1  R(t)  1  e  λt

Probability Density Function:

f(t)  λe  λt
1
Note : θ  Mean 
λ
4
 Plots of R(t), F(t), f(t), h(t)
for Exponential distribution

h(t) f(t)

R(t) F(t)
5
 Examples of
Exponential Distribution

λ
2.0
1.0
0.5

6
 MTTF, Variance and Median

• MTTF and Variance

1
MTTF 

2 1 1
  2  
 
– MTTF (time per failure) is the reciprocal of
the failure rate (failures per unit time)
– The standard deviation equals to the
MTTF, implying the variability of the
failure time increases as the reliability
(MTTF) increases

• Median
R( B50 )  0.5  e   B50
1
 B50   ln 0.5  0.69315 MTTF < MTTF

– The median is always less than the mean 
Exponential distribution is skewed to the right

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 Examples
Example 1
A 5-ton truck has a MMBF (mean mile between
failures) of 1,750 miles when used in cross
country terrain. Assuming constant failure rate,
what is the reliability for a 75-mile mission?

Solution

1 1 1
λ  
θ MMBF 1750
 λt  751750
R(T)  e e  0.9580

8
 Examples
Example 2
An automobile is commonly warranted for 12,000
miles. What system MMBF is required that no
more than 1% of the vehicles sold will require
warranty work? (Assuming constant failure rate.)

Solution

R(12000)  0.99  e 12000λ

1
MMBF   1193990
λ

9
 Examples
Example 3
A sighting system consists of a north seeking
gyro, laser designator, A/D converter, digital
computer, and transmitter. This entire system is
assumed to have an exponential distributed time-
to-failure with a mean of 130 hours.
(1) What is the failure rate for the system?
(2) What is the probability that the system were
surviving 10 hours of use?
(3) How long can the system be used such that there
is 90% reliability?
Solution
1 1
(1) λ  
θ 130
10
-
 λt
(2) R(10)  e e 130
 0.93
(3) R(t)  e -λt  0.9  t  13.7

10
 Examples

Example 4

What is the probability of an item surviving until t = 100

units if the item is exponentially distributed with a mean
time between failure of 80 units? Given that the item
survived to 200 units, what is the probability of survival
until t = 300 units? What is the value of the hazard
function at 200 units, 300 units?

The probability of survival until t = 100 units is

 100 
 
 80 
R (100)  e  0.2865

The probability of survival until t = 300 units given

survival until t = 200 units is
R(300) e 300 / 80
R(300,200)    0.2865
R (200) e  200 / 80

Note that this is equal to the probability of failure in the

interval from t=0 to t=100.

The value of the hazard function is equal to the failure

rate and is constant
h(t)= 1/80 = 0.125
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 Examples
Example 5

The lifetime (in hours) of an electrical component can

be described by the
exponential distribution f (t) = λ⋅ exp(−λ⋅t) t ≥ 0; λ
=1/(500h) .
•What is the probability that the component does not
fail before the time t1 = 200 h?
•What is the probability that the component fails before
t2 = 100 h?
•What is the probability that the component fails
between the times t3 = 200 h and t4 = 300 h?
•How long, t5, can the component survive with exactly
90% safety and which range of time can the
component survive with at least 90% safety?
•What value must the parameter λ have for a lifetime
distribution where the probability is 90% so that the
lifetime of a component is at least 50 h?

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 Examples

Solution

13
 Examples

Solution

14
 Examples
Example 6

In a factory, a device that works effectively as good as new

during its operating life, has failure rate of 0.008 failures
per day. If the probability of failure for this device is
independent of running time, find the following:

1.The probability that this device will fail before 100 days of
running time
2.The probability that this device will last for more than 80
days
3.The probability that this device will not run for 40 days
before failing
4.The probability that this device will fail before the 10 days
that follow the first 100 days of running time
5.The probability that this device will last for more than 60
days and less than 120 days
6.The probability that this device will fail after 50 days of
working and before 100 days of running time
7.The probability that this device will fail during the 10 days
that follow the first 100 days of running time

15
 Examples

Example 7

The reliability of a technical component is given by the equation:

R(t) = exp(− (λ·t)2 ) for t ≥

Calculate the failure density, the failure probability and the failure
rate. Show the results graphically

Solution

16
 Examples

Example 8

An electrical meter times to failure are described by the

following probability density function:
ƒ(t) = λ exp (-λt)

Where: λ = 0.0005

Calculate the hazard rate and the motor MTTF.

17
 Examples

Example 9

A mechanical device times to failure are described by the

following probability density function:
ƒ(t) = 2λ e (-2λt)

Where: λ = 0.0004
Calculate the failure rate and the device MTTF.

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 Examples
Example 10

An item shows a marked wear-out failure pattern. It tends

to fail at mean operating age of 200 days. The dispersion
from the mean that is associated with the times to failure
of this item is 40 days measured as standard deviation.
Find the following:
1.The probability that this item will last for more than 160
days and less than 300days
2.The probability that this item will fail in the first 20 days
after 300 of successful working days

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 Lack-of-Memory Property

P[T  t  s | T  s ]  P[T  t ], t  0, s  0

• The probability that an item will operate for

the next t=1000 hr is the same regardless of
whether has been operating for s=0 hr,
s=500 hr, or s=2500 hr, etc.
P[T  1000]  P[T  1000  2500 | T  2500]

• The time of failure of an item is not

dependent on how long the item has been
operating
 no wear out or aging effect, no infant
mortality
 “Used as good as new”
• It is consistent with the completely random
and independent nature of the failure process
 For example, when random environmental
stresses are the primary cause of failures,
the failure history of an item will not be
relevant.

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Lack-of-Memory Property

s =2500

s=0

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 Applications of
Exponential Distribution

• Failures due to completely random or

chance events will follow this distribution.

• It should dominate during the useful life of

a system or component.

• Limited application due to the assumption

of constant failure rate.

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