Course content

Definition and discussion of basic concepts related to reliability and risk analysis. Functional analysis and identification and evaluation of faults and hazards. System analysis based on FMECA, reliability block diagrams and fault trees. Quantification of reliability and availability of technological systems. Measures for reliability importance. Analysis of repairable systems by Markov methods. Analysis of safety-critical systems (IEC 61508). Analysis of systems with common cause failures. Estimation of failure rates. Survey of reliability data sources.

Learning outcome

The course gives an introduction to basic concepts and approaches related to analysis of safety and reliability of industrial systems and production/distribution of energy.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures, project work and exercises. Three exercises must be submitted and approved to be able to take the exam. A mandatory project shall be carried out, and will count 30% in the evaluation. The lectures and the exercises are in English when students who do not speak English take the course. If there is a re-sit examination, the examination form may be changed from written to oral.

Compulsory assignments

• Project
• Exercises

Recommended previous knowledge

Basic course in probability theory.

Course materials

M. Rausand and A. Høyland: System Reliability Theory; Models, Statistical Methods, and Applications, Second Edition, Wiley 2004. Supplementary notes.

Credit reductions