Reliability analysis of the k-out-of-n multi-state system

The multistate system is investigated in this paper as an object of reliability analysis. In this case system and its component may experience more than two states of reliability as opposed to the binary system (the system and its components are allowed to have only two possible states: completed failure and perfect functioning). The mathematical model of the multistate system is improved. We examine the system to allow a different number of discrete states for the system and for each component and propose to apply dynamic reliability indices for investigation of this system. These indices estimate influence upon the multistate system reliability a change of the system component state.