An optimal inspection and replacement policy for a two-unit system. (December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yang, Li; Zhao, Yu; Ma, Xiaobing; Qiu, Qingan
• Is Part Of: Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Volume 232:Number 6(2018:Dec.)
• Page Start: 766
• Page End: 776
• Publication Date: 2018-12
• Subjects: Modeling/simulation -- component failure analysis -- system failure modeling -- condition-based maintenance -- maintenance optimization; Reliability (Engineering) -- Mathematical models -- Periodiclals; Risk assessment -- Mathematical models -- Periodicals; Engineering design -- Mathematical models -- Periodicals; 620.00452
• DOI: 10.1177/1748006X18761488
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1748-006X

Abstract

We study a preventive maintenance policy for a system composed of two units, a binary state unit and a three-state unit. Failures of both units are hard and self-announcing. The intermediate, defective state for the second unit can be regarded as a signal of pending failures. Unit 2 is inspected when its age attains integral multiples of intervals and when unit 1 fails, and preventive replacement is immediate once the defective state is revealed. This strategy could be extended by further providing preventive replacement for the first unit. A case study on an offshore wind turbine is presented for illustration. We find that opportunistic maintenance schemed for both units could effectively reduce the maintenance cost.