ABSTRACT
A linear multi-state consecutively connected system (LMCCS) is composed of a number of linear ordered positions, where the first node is the source node and the last node is the sink node. Each non-sink node is deployed with the connection element (CE) to connect the host node with its following nodes. This chapter proposes a model to evaluate the reliability of LMCCSs considering multiple phased missions. Considerable research efforts have been expended in reliability modelling and optimization of LMCCSs as well as their generalizations. R. Peng et al. studied the optimal maintenance interval and the optimal allocation of CEs in LMCCSs. There are several types of CEs with different reliabilities. Each type of CE can exhibit several working states. The reliability of an LMCCS is not only related to the performance of its CEs used but also heavily dependent on how these CEs are allocated into the system.
