Adaptive bathtub hazard rate curve modelling via transformed radial basis functions

The bathtub curve is essential in interpreting the hazard rate or failure rate function for the engineering reliability analysis. An adaptive bathtub hazard function (ABF) or failure rate function curve modelling is proposed by using the transformed radial basis functions, which includes a type of symmetric ABF (SABF) and a type of asymmetric ABF (AABF). The ABF provides a parametric approach to represent the failure behaviours of various engineering applications and can also be easily utilised as the design objectives for the further accelerated life prediction, parameters determination and reliability based optimisation studies.