Nonlinear optimization in bi-level selective maintenance allocation problem

Abstract

The structural diversity of systems and the resource limitations, and the need to improve system reliability give birth to several optimization techniques and analyses. Recently, the significance of reliability and maintainability concepts has been increasing attention. Several optimization concepts exist in the reliability literature. However, less concern has been given to the bi-level programming concept, especially in the selective maintenance allocation problem. Hence, the present study is motivated and focuses on bridging the existing literature gap. This paper aims to transform a problem of reliability into a Bi-Level Programming Problem (BLPP). The objective functions are non-linear, and the constraints are linear. The current paper demonstrates the reliability optimization problem as a BLPP and applies the Kuhn-Tucker approach to solving the formulated BLPP. A section for estimating the reliability parameters are discussed, and a numerical example has been provided to illustrate the solution procedure.

Keywords

• Bi-level programming problem
• Selective maintenance allocation problem
• Reliability optimization
• K-T Conditions
• Nonlinear optimization