International Journal of Reliability, Quality and Safety Engineering

Vol. 13, No. 1 (2006) 25–35

c World Scientific Publishing Company
A FUZZY RELIABILITY ANALYSIS BASED ON THE
TRANSFORMATION BETWEEN DISCRETE FUZZY
VARIABLES AND DISCRETE RANDOM VARIABLES
YUGE DONG∗
School of Mechanical & Automotive Engineering
Hefei University of Technology, No. 193, Tunxi Road
Hefei, Anhui, 230009, People’s Republic of China
Dyghfut@163.com
AINAN WANG
School of Science, Hefei University of Technology
No. 193, Tunxi Road, Hefei, Anhui, 230009
People’s Republic of China
Received 15 September 2005
Revised 15 December 2005
When fuzzy information is taken into consideration in design, it is difficult to analyze
the reliability of machine parts because we usually must deal with random information
and fuzzy information simultaneously. Therefore, in order to make it easy to analyze
fuzzy reliability, this paper proposes the transformation between discrete fuzzy random
variable and discrete random variable based on a fuzzy reliability analysis when one of the
stress and strength is a discrete fuzzy variable and the other is a discrete random variable.
The transformation idea put forwards in this paper can be extended to continuous case,
and can also be used in the fuzzy reliability analysis of repairable system.
Keywords: Fuzzy reliability; fuzzy variable; random variable.
1. Introduction
There is a lot of uncertain information in the process of machine design. Both
random variables and fuzzy variables can be used to describe the uncertain
information.1 Usually, the random information is dealt with by using probabil-
ity theory and the fuzzy information is dealt with by using fuzzy theory, but so far
there is no compatibility between these two methods in fuzzy reliability analysis.
That is to say, when we consider fuzzy information in design, it is difficult to ana-
lyze the reliability of machine parts because we usually must deal with the random
information and the fuzzy information simultaneously.2 According to the concept
∗ Corresponding
author.
25
 Y. Dong & A. Wang
26
of the cut-set of fuzzy mathematics, the problem of fuzzy reliability could be solved
by means of the transformation from the fuzzy set to the general set, and it was
proved that general reliability was a special example of fuzzy reliability.3–7
This paper discusses an approach by means of the transformation between dis-
crete fuzzy variable8 and discrete random variable. After transforming fuzzy vari-
able to random variable, or random variable to fuzzy variable according to a fuzzy
reliability analysis, it is easier to analyze fuzzy reliability because there is only ran-
dom information or fuzzy information in design. By using the approach of analyzing
fuzzy reliability in the paper, we can make full use of the mature conventional reli-
ability theory to compute fuzzy reliability, and reduce the difficulty of analyzing
fuzzy reliability. From the viewpoint of methodology this paper gives the inverse
transformation formula, namely from discrete random variable to discrete fuzzy
variable, mainly based on an analysis of fuzzy reliability, which maybe useful in
some special cases.
2. Fuzzy Reliability Analysis in the Case of Discrete Variable
2.1. Random stress and fuzzy strength
Assuming stress s of a machine part is a discrete random variable, the probability is
p(si ) at value si (i = 1, 2, . . . , m), and fuzzy strength r of the machine part is a dis-
crete fuzzy variable, the membership degree is µr (rj ) at its value rj (j = 1, 2, . . . , n).
e
For any given threshold value λ, when the fuzzy strength take value rj ,
whether its membership degree is greater or equal to the threshold value λ can
be expressed by3
µr (rj ) ≥ λ
1
e
θ(µr (rj ) − λ) =
(1)
e
µr (rj ) < λ
0
e
Therefore, the number of the fuzzy strength whose membership is not less than
λ is written down as
n
θ(µr (rj ) − λ).
(2)
e
j=1
According to the concept of the cut-set of fuzzy mathematics, we can think
that the probabilities at every possible value of the strength, whose membership is
greater or equal to the λ, are the same. According to this idea, when the threshold
value is λ, the probability at the value rj of the strength is given by
θ(µr (rj ) − λ)
e
Pλ (rj ) =
.
(3)
n
θ(µr (rj ) − λ)
e
j=1
Obviously, Pλ (rj ) = 0 when µr (rj ) < λ, and when µr (rj ) ≥ λ, we obtain
e
e
1
Pλ (rj ) =
.
(4)
n
j=1 θ(µr (rj )
− λ)
e
 A Fuzzy Reliability Analysis Based on the Transformation
27
When the stress takes si and the threshold value is λ, the reliability of the part is
n
Rλ (si ) = P (si ≤ rλ ) =
[Pλ (rj ) · θ(rj − si )]
j=1
n
j=1 [θ(µr (rj ) − λ) · θ(rj − si )]
e
=
(5)
n
j=1 θ(µr (rj ) − λ)
e
where Rλ (si ) — reliability of the part when the threshold value is λ and the stress
takes si .
For any possible value si (i = 1, 2, . . . , m) of the stress, Rλ (s) is
n
m
j=1 [θ(µr (rj ) − λ) · θ(rj − si )]
e
Rλ (s) = P (s ≤ rλ ) =
p(si )
(6)
n
j=1 θ(µr (rj ) − λ)
e
i=1
where Rλ (s) — reliability of the part when the threshold value is λ.
The synthesized reliability of the part is the integral of the reliability Rλ (s) on
[0,1], namely3,5
1
1
R(s) = P (s ≤ r ) =
Rλ (s)dλ =
P (s ≤ rλ )dλ
0
0
n
m
j=1 [θ(µr (rj ) − λ) · θ(rj − si )]
1
e
p(si )
=
dλ
(7)
n
j=1 θ(µr (rj ) − λ)
e
0
i=1
where R(s) — synthesized reliability of the part.
Correspondingly, the failure probability of the part can be expressed by
n
m
j=1 [θ(µr (rj ) − λ) · θ (si
− rj )]
e
Fλ (s) = P (s > rλ ) =
p(si )
(8)
n
j=1 θ(µr (rj ) − λ)
e
i=1
where Fλ (s) — failure probability of the part when the threshold value is λ.
1 si > rj
θ (si − rj ) =
.
(9)
0 si ≤ rj
And, the synthesized failure probability F (s) of the part can be obtained as
1
F (s) = P (s > r ) =
P (s > rλ )dλ
0
 n
m
1
j=1 [θ(µr (rj ) − λ) · θ (si
− rj )]
e
p(si )
=
dλ.
(10)
n
j=1 θ(µr (rj ) − λ)
e
0
i=1
Based on Eqs. (7) and (10), because θ(rj − si ) + θ (si − rj ) ≡ 1, it is easy to
prove that F + R ≡ 1.
 Y. Dong & A. Wang
28
2.2. Fuzzy stress and random strength
Assuming the probability of a discrete random strength at its possible value is p(ri )
at ri (i = 1, 2, . . . , m), and the membership degree of a discrete fuzzy stress at its
possible is µe(sj ) at sj (j = 1, 2, . . . , n).
s
For any threshold value λ, when the value of the fuzzy stress is ri , whether its
membership degree is greater or equal to the threshold value λ is given by
1 µe(sj ) ≥ λ
s
θ(µe(sj ) − λ) =
.
s
0 µe(sj ) < λ
s
The reliability Rλ (r) of the part when the threshold value is λ is given by
n
m
j=1 [θ(µ(sj ) − λ) · θ(ri − sj )]
Rλ (r) = P (r ≥ sλ ) =
p(ri )
.
(11)
n
θ(µ(sj ) − λ)
j=1
i=1
The synthesized reliability R(r) of the part can be given by
1
R(r) = P (r ≥ s ) =
P (r ≥ sλ )dλ
0
n
m
1
j=1 [θ(µ(sj ) − λ) · θ(ri − sj )]
p(ri )
=
dλ.
(12)
n
θ(µ(sj ) − λ)
0
j=1
i=1
The failure probability Fλ (r) of the part at the threshold value λ is
n
m
j=1 [θ(µ(sj ) − λ) · θ (sj
− ri )]
Fλ (r) = P (r < sλ ) =
p(ri )
.
(13)
n
j=1 θ(µ(sj ) − λ)
i=1
The synthesized failure probability F (r) of the part is
n
m
1
j=1 [θ(µ(sj ) − λ) · θ (sj
− ri )]
F (r) = P (r < s ) =
p(ri )
dλ.
(14)
n
j=1 θ(µ(sj ) − λ)
0
i=1
3. The Transformation between Fuzzy Variables and
Random Variables
3.1. From a fuzzy variable to a random variable
Assuming the stress s of a part is a discrete random variable, the probability of its
possible value is given by p(si ) = p(s = si ) at si (i = 1, 2, . . . , m), and the strength
rT of the part is a discrete random variable transformed from a fuzzy strength
r, the probability at the possible value of the transformed random strength rT is
denoted by p(rT = rj ) = p(rj ) at rj (j = 1, 2, . . . , n), where rT means a discrete
random strength transformed from the discrete fuzzy strength.
 A Fuzzy Reliability Analysis Based on the Transformation
29
By means of general reliability theory, the failure probability F of the part can
be expressed by
m
n
F = P (s > r T ) =
p(si )
p(rj ) · θ (si − rj ).
(15)
i=1
j=1
As for the discrete fuzzy strength r in Eq. (10), the membership degree at value
rj (j = 1, 2, . . . , n) of the fuzzy strength r is µr (rj ). To obtain the formula of
e
the transformation from the discrete fuzzy strength to a discrete random strength,
we let
1 = µr (r1 ) ≥ µr (r2 ) ≥ · · · ≥ µr (rn ) ≥ µr (rn+1 ) = 0.
(16)
e
e
e
e
Therefore, Eq. (10) can be expressed by
n
m
µr (rn )
j=1 [θ(µr (rj ) − λ) · θ (si
− rj )]
e
e
F=
p(si ) ×
dλ
n
j=1 θ(µr (rj ) − λ)
e
µr (rn+1 )
i=1
e
n
j=1 [θ(µr (rj ) − λ) · θ (si − rj )]
µr (rn−1 )
e
e
+
dλ
n
θ(µr (rj ) − λ)
e
µr (rn )
j=1
e
n
µr (r2 )
j=1 [θ(µr (rj ) − λ) · θ (si − rj )]
e
e
+ ··· +
dλ
n
θ(µr (rj ) − λ)
e
µr (r3 )
j=1
e
n
µr (r1 )
j=1 [θ(µr (rj ) − λ) · θ (si − rj )]
e
e
+
dλ
(17)
n
θ(µr (rj ) − λ)
e
µr (r2 )
j=1
e

On the interval [µr (rk+1 )µr (rk )](k = n, n − 1, . . . , 2, 1), we have

e
e
1 j≤k
 θ(µr (rj ) − λ) =
e
0 j >k+1
So, Eq. (17) can be given by

1 n
m
F=
p(si )
[µr (rn ) − µr (rn+1 )]θ (si − rj )
e
e
n
i=1
j=1
n−1
1
[µr (rn−1 ) − µr (rn )]θ (si − rj )
+
e
e
n−1
j=1


2
1
+ ···+
[µr (r2 ) − µr (r3 )]θ (si − rj ) + [µr (r1 ) − µr (r2 )]θ (si − r1 )
e
e
e
e

2
j=1
m
1
p(si )
[µr (rn ) − µr (rn+1 )]θ (si − r1 )
=
e
e
n
i=1
1
[µr (rn−1 ) − µr (rn )]θ (si − r1 )
+
e
e
n−1
1
+ · · · + [µr (r2 ) − µr (r3 )]θ (si − r1 ) + [µr (r1 ) − µr (r2 )]θ (si − r1 )
e
e
e
e
2
 Y. Dong & A. Wang
30
1
1
[µr (rn ) − µr (rn+1 )]θ (si − r2 ) +
[µr (rn−1 ) − µr (rn )]θ (si − r2 )
+
e
e
e
e
n
n−1
1
+ · · · + [µr (r2 ) − µr (r3 )]θ (si − r2 )
e
e
2
1
+ ··· +
[µr (rn ) − µr (rn+1 )]θ (si − rn−1 )
e
e
n
1
[µr (rn−1 ) − µr (rn )]θ (si − rn−1 )
+
e
e
n−1
1
[µr (rn ) − µr (rn+1 )]θ (si − rn )
+
e
e
n
m
n
1
p(si )
[µr (rk ) − µr (rk+1 )]θ (si − r1 )
=
e
e
k
i=1
k=1
n
1
[µr (rk ) − µr (rk+1 )]θ (si − r2 )
+
e
e
k
k=2
n
1
+ ··· +
[µr (rk ) − µr (rk+1 )]θ (si − rn−1 )
e
e
k
k=n−1
n
1
[µr (rk ) − µr (rk+1 )]θ (si − rn )
+
e
e
k
k=n


n n

m
1
p(si )
 [µr (rk ) − µr (rk+1 )] θ (si − rj ).
=
(18)
e
e


k
i=1
j=1
k=j
After comparing Eq. (18) with Eq. (15), we can use the following equation to
transform the discrete fuzzy variable to a discrete random variable.
n
1
p(rj ) =
[µr (rk ) − µr (rk+1 )].
(19)
e
e
k
k=j
Equation (19) can be used to compute the probability at possible value rj (j =
1, 2, . . . , n) of the discrete random strength rT transformed from the discrete fuzzy
strength. We can also derive the equation of transforming the discrete fuzzy strength
to the discrete random strength from Eq. (7). It can be proven that the equation of
transforming the discrete fuzzy strength to a discrete random strength derived from
Eq. (7) has the same form as Eq. (19). Certainly, substituting r with s in Eq. (19)
yields an equation that can be derived from Eq. (12) or Eq. (14) to transform a
discrete fuzzy stress to a discrete random stress. Therefore, Eq. (19) is a general
equation to transform any discrete fuzzy variable to a discrete random variable.
Generally, for any discrete fuzzy variable x, the following equation can be used
to transform it to a discrete random variable.
n
1
p(xj ) =
[µx (xk ) − µx (xk+1 )]
(20)
e
e
k
k=j
 A Fuzzy Reliability Analysis Based on the Transformation
31
The transformation in Eq. (20) is the same as that in some references.9,10 There-
fore, we know that the transformation equation is rational, and the fuzzy reliability
analysis by using Eqs. (7), (10) and (12) and (14) is rational, too.
3.2. From a random variable to a fuzzy variable
Provided that r T is a discrete fuzzy variable transformed from a discrete random
variable r, and its probability at the possible value rj (j = 1, 2, . . . , n) is given by
p(r T = rj ) = p(rj ), where r T expresses a discrete fuzzy strength transformed from
the discrete random strength.
To compute the failure probability F of the part, in Eq. (15) we let
p(r1 ) ≥ p(r2 ) ≥ · · · ≥ p(rn ) ≥ p(rn+1 ) = 0
(21)
Therefore, Eq. (15) of conventional reliability theory can be expressed by
m
n
F=
p(si )
[p(rj ) − p(rj+1 ) + p(rj+1 ) − p(rj+2 )
i=1
j=1
+ p(rj+2 ) − · · · + p(rn ) − p(rn+1 )] · θ (si − rj )


n n

m
p(si )
[p(rk ) − p(rk+1 )] · θ (si − rj )
=


i=1
j=1
k=j


n n

m
1
p(si )
[kp(rk ) − kp(rk+1 )] · θ (si − rj )
=


k
i=1
j=1
k=j

n n
m
1
p(si )
kp(rk ) − kp(rk+1 ) − p(rk+1 )
=

k
i=1
j=1
k=j
n
n
p(rl ) −
p(rl )
· θ (si − rj )
+
l=k+1
l=k+2


m
n
n
n
 1
p(si )
kp(rk ) +
p(rl )
=

k
i=1
j=1
k=j
l=k+1
n
−
p(rl )
· θ (si − rj ).
(k + 1)p(rk+1 ) +
(22)
l=k+2
Comparing Eq. (22) with Eq. (18), we can use the following equation to trans-
form the discrete random variable r to the discrete fuzzy variable r T .
n
µr T (rj ) = jp(rj ) +
p(rl ).
(23)
e
l=j+1
Based on Eq. (21), we know
j
n
n
jp(rj ) =
min(pj , pl ),
p(rl ) =
min(pj , pl ).
(24)
l=1
l=j+1
l=j+1
 Y. Dong & A. Wang
32
Therefore, Eq. (23) can be simply given by
n
n
µ(rj ) = jp(rj ) +
p(rl ) =
min(pj , pl ).
(25)
l=j+1
l=1
Equation (25) accords with the result of some reference too.9,10 In fact, Eq. (25)
can be applied to any discrete random variable to a discrete fuzzy variable. We can
obtain Eq. (25) by computing either the failure probability or the reliability when
one of the stress and the strength is a discrete random variable and the other is a
discrete fuzzy variable.
4. The Computation of Fuzzy Reliability
From the above discussion, we know that the reliability of machine parts can be
computed in different ways whether the stress and strength of the parts are fuzzy
variables or random variables. When one or both of stress and strength are fuzzy
variable, and if we want to compute the failure probability of machine parts accord-
ing to random method, such as Eq. (15), we can use Eq. (20) to transform the
discrete fuzzy stress or/and the discrete fuzzy strength, to a discrete random stress
or/and a discrete random strength, and compute the failure probability.
When both of stress and strength are random variables, it is easy to know that
we can use conventional method to compute the failure probability of machine
parts. Also, we can compute it by using the fuzzy method mentioned above, such
as Eq. (10) or (14). To do so, we can use Eq. (25) to transform the discrete random
stress or the random discrete strength to a discrete fuzzy stress or a discrete fuzzy
strength, and compute the failure probability by using Eq. (10) or (14).
When both of stress and strength are fuzzy variables, we can also use fuzzy
method similar to Eq. (10) or (14) to compute the failure probability. To do so, we
should use a threshold value λ to transform a fuzzy set to a general set firstly. And
then, we use Eq. (10) or (14) to compute the failure probability at the threshold
value λ. As we know that there should be another threshold value to transform
the other fuzzy set to a general set when we use Eq. (10) or (14). The computing
equation is as follows.
1
1
1
P (sλ1 > r )dλ1 =
P (sλ1 > rλ2 )dλ2 dλ1 .
F = P (s > r ) =
(26)
0
0
0
Correspondingly, F can be computed by another equation as
1
1
1
F = P (s > r ) =
P (s > rλ2 )dλ2 =
P (sλ1 > rλ2 )dλ1 dλ2 .
(27)
0
0
0
But it is unsuitable to compute F by
1
P (s T > rλ )dλ.
T
F = P (s
> r) =
(28)
λ
0
Why so, it should be studied deeply in the further research. The best way to
analyze fuzzy reliability is to transform fuzzy variables to random variables, because
 A Fuzzy Reliability Analysis Based on the Transformation
33
there are only random variables in fuzzy reliability analysis after the fuzzy variables
are transformed to the random variables.
5. Numerical Examples
Assume that the stress was a discrete random variable, and
p(s = 9) = 1/8, p(s = 10) = 1/2, p(s = 11) = 3/8.
The strength was a discrete fuzzy variable, and
µ(r = 10) = 1, µ(r = 8) = µ(r = 12) = 0.5, µ(r = 6) = µ(r = 14) = 0.1.
Let’s compute the failure probability.
There is different failure probability Fλ for different threshold value λ. So, we
have:
When λ is between 0 and 0.1
121233
19
F1 = P (s > rλ ) =
×+×+×=
852585
40
When λ is between 0.1 and 0.5
111132
11
F2 = P (s > rλ ) = × + × + × =
832383
24
When λ is between 0.5 and 1
3
3
F3 = P (s > rλ ) = × 1 =
8
8
The failure probability R of the part is obtained as
1
F = P (s > r ) =
P (s > rλ )dλ
0
0.1
0.5
1
P (s > rλ )dλ +
P (s > rλ )dλ +
P (s > rλ )dλ
=
0
0.1
0.5
251
= 0.1 × F1 + (0.5 − 0.1) × F2 + (1 − 0.5) × F3 =
.
600
Now we compute the failure probability F of the part based on the transforma-
tion from the fuzzy variable r to a random variable r T .
The probabilities value in Table 1 are calculated by using Eq. (20). From
Eq. (15), the failure probability F of the part can be computed easily as follows.
1
1
3
251
F = P (s > r ) = P (s > r T ) =
(P3 + P5 ) + (P3 + P5 ) + (P1 + P3 + P5 ) =
.
8
2
8
600
The results by using two computing approaches are the same. The example
shows that fuzzy reliability can be analyzed by using conventional reliability theory
after a discrete fuzzy variable is transformed to a discrete random variable.
Of course, we can transform the discrete random stress to a discrete fuzzy stress.
Now, both stress and strength are fuzzy variables, and we can use Eq. (26) or (27)
to compute the failure probability.
 Y. Dong & A. Wang
34
Table 1. Transformation from the discrete fuzzy
strength r to a discrete random strength r T .
e
e
Discrete strength value
10
12
8
14
6
Membership
1
0.5
0.5
0.1
0.1
49
23
23
1
1
Probability value
75
150
150
50
50
P1
P2
P3
P4
P5
Number
To transform the discrete random variable to a discrete fuzzy variable, from
Eq. (23) or (25), we have
1
3
31
7
131
µeT (s = 9) = 3×
= , µeT (s = 11) = 2× + = , µeT (s = 10) = + + = 1.
s
8s
8s
8
88
288
Therefore, based on Eq. (26), F is given by
3/8
1
7/8
1
P (s T
P (s T > rλ2 )dλ2 dλ1
F=
> rλ2 )dλ2 dλ1 +
λ1
λ1
0
0
3/8
0
1
1
P (s T > rλ2 )dλ2 dλ1 .
+
λ1
7/8
0
In the above equation, we have
1
0.1
P (s T
P (s T > rλ2 )dλ2
> rλ2 )dλ2 =
λ1
λ1
0
 0
0.5
1
P (s T
P (s T > rλ2 )dλ2 .
> rλ2 )dλ2 +
+
λ1
λ1
0.1
0.5
Based on the above two equations, the failure probability is obtained as F =
251/600. Of course, F can also be computed by using Eq. (27). It is much more
difficult to compute fuzzy probability by transforming random variables to fuzzy
variables. But, it will be useful in some cases.
6. Conclusions
This paper deduces the transformation formulae from a discrete fuzzy variable to a
discrete random variable, and from a discrete random variable to a discrete fuzzy
variable. The content discussed in the paper shows that we can analyze the problem
of fuzzy reliability by using the transformation, and make a complex fuzzy relia-
bility problem a simple one of conventional reliability. The paper gives an effective
attempt to deal with fuzzy information and random information simultaneously in
fuzzy reliability analysis. It is easy to know that the transformation can be extended
to continuous case and the transformation formulae from random variables to fuzzy
variables may be useful in some complex analysis of fuzzy reliability in some more
complex cases. The transformation from fuzzy variables to random variables makes
it easier for fuzzy reliability analysis.
 A Fuzzy Reliability Analysis Based on the Transformation
35
Acknowledgements
Financial support by NSFC (National Natural Science Foundation of China) under
the Contract No. 50375042 is appreciated.
References
1. W. Zhu, Mechanical Fuzzy Probability design and Fuzzy Design (in Chinese) (Higher
Education Press, Shanghai, 1997).
2. Y. Dong, A new approach for the fuzzy reliability analysis in case of discrete fuzzy
variable, in Proc. of the 2004 Asian International Workshop, ed. T. Dohi, pp. 101–108.
3. Y. Dong, Study on method of fuzzy reliability design as discrete fuzzy and random
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About the Authors
Yuge Dong is a Professor in the School of Mechanical & Automotive Engineering
at Hefei University of Technology, China. He obtained his Ph.D. in 1998 from
Hefei University of Technology. His research interests are machine design, machine
reliability design and machine fuzzy reliability design. He has published more than
60 papers on these fields.
Ainan Wang is an Assistant Professor in the School of Science at Hefei University
of Technology, China. She obtained her Master in 1994 from Hefei University of
Technology. She has been teaching since 1994. Her interest and research focus in
fuzzy reliability design.