Applying fuzzy GERT with approximate fuzzy arithmetic based on the weakest t-norm operations to evaluate repairable reliability

In general, the fuzzy Graphical Evaluation and Review Technique (GERT) usually evaluates/analyzes variables with interval arithmetic (α-cut arithmetic) operations, especially those with complicated fuzzy systems. Thus the interval arithmetic operations may occur accumulating phenomenon of fuzziness in complicated systems, and the accumulating phenomenon of fuzziness may make decision-maker that cannot effectively evaluate problems/systems under vague environment. In order to overcome the accumulating phenomenon of fuzziness or credibly reduce fuzzy spreads, this study adopts approximate fuzzy arithmetic operations under the weakest t-norm arithmetic operations (Tω) to evaluate fuzzy reliability models based on fuzzy GERT simulation technology. The approximate fuzzy arithmetic operations employ principle of interval arithmetic under the weakest t-norm arithmetic operations. Therefore, the novel fuzzy arithmetic operations may obtain fitter decision values, which have smaller fuzziness accumulating, under vague environment. In numerical examples the approximate fuzzy arithmetic operations has evidenced that it can successfully calculate results of fuzzy operations as interval arithmetic, and can more effectively reduce fuzzy spreads. In the real fuzzy repairable reliability model the performance also shows that the approximate fuzzy arithmetic operations successfully analyze the reliability problem and obtain more confident fuzzy results.