Fuzzy arithmetic based reliability allocation approach during early design and development

In this paper, we treat allocation factors as fuzzy numbers, which are evaluated in fuzzy linguistic terms. As a result, fuzzy proportionality factor scales are proposed for the subsystems. In order to accomplish fuzzy division to evaluate the fuzzy proportionality factor, an approximation method based on linear programming for trapezoidal fuzzy numbers is also proposed in this paper. For the evaluation of weighting factors from fuzzy proportionality factors, centroid method of defuzzification is being employed. The allocated reliability of each subsystem is computed with the help of weighting factor thereafter. An example is provided to illustrate the potential application of the proposed fuzzy based reliability allocation approach.