Use of Q-GERT Network Simulation in Reliability Analysis

Reliability analysis for all but the simplest systems often is unmanageable. This paper proposes Q-GERT simulation for such analysis. Q-GERT as opposed to the original GERT analysis, is a relatively easier networking model. Thus, determining the reliability of both simple and complex systems from individual component test data lends itself quite readily to Q-GERT analysis. Although the examples are rather simple, mathematically tractable systems, it is possible to extend Q-GERT procedures to more complex systems. The probability distributions for these more complex systems may be either user defined or may be chosen from any one of 11 different predefined functions. The only requirement for the use of Q-GERT is that input data describing the model be provided by the analyst. The basic format of the Q-GERT model facilitates this description of the input network. Thus, Q-GERT is a useful tool for analyzing complex systems and facilitates analysis where the mathematical calculations are either intractable or very complex.