In a network topology design problem, it is important to analyze the reliability and construction cost of complex network systems. This paper addresses a topological optimization problem of minimizing the total cost of a network system with separate subsystems under a reliability constraint. To solve this problem, we develop three algorithms. The first algorithm finds an exact solution. The second one finds an exact solution, specialized for a system with identical subsystems. The third one is a heuristic algorithm, which finds an approximate solution when a network system has several identical subsystems. We also conduct numerical experiments and demonstrate the efficacy and efficiency of the developed algorithms.

In the field of reliability engineering, many studies on the relationship of reliability between components and the entire system have been conducted since the 1960s. Various properties of large-scale systems can be studied by limit theorems. In addition, the limit theorem can provide an approximate system reliability. Existing studies have established the limit theorems of a connected-(r, s)-out-of-(m, n):F lattice system consisting of components with the same reliability. However, the existing limit theorems are constrained in terms of (a) the system shape and (b) the condition under which the theorem can be applied. Therefore, this study generalizes the existing limit theorems along the two aforementioned directions. The limit theorem established in this paper can be useful for revealing the properties of the reliability of a large-scale connected-(r, s)-out-of-(m, n):F lattice system.

An optimal arrangement problem involves finding a component arrangement to maximize system reliability, namely, the optimal arrangement. It is useful to obtain the optimal arrangement when we design a practical system. An existing study developed an algorithm for finding the optimal arrangement of a connected-(r, s)-out-of-(m, n): F lattice system with r=m-1 and n<2s. However, the algorithm is time-consuming to find the optimal arrangement of a system having many components. In this study, we develop an algorithm for efficiently finding the optimal arrangement of the system with r=m-1 and s=n-1 based on the depth-first branch-and-bound method. In the algorithm, before enumerating arrangements, we assign some components without computing the system reliability. As a result, we can find the optimal arrangement effectively because the number of components which must be assigned decreases. Furthermore, we develop an efficient method for computing the system reliability. The numerical experiment demonstrates the effectiveness of our proposed algorithm.

A consecutive-k-out-of-n:G system consists of n components which are arranged in a line and the system works if and only if at least k consecutive components work. This paper discusses the optimization problems for a consecutive-k-out-of-n:G system. We first focus on the optimal number of components at the system design phase. Then, we focus on the optimal replacement time at the system operation phase by considering a preventive replacement, which the system is replaced at the planned time or the time of system failure which occurs first. The expected cost rates of two optimization problems are considered as objective functions to be minimized. Finally, we give study cases for the proposed optimization problems and evaluate the feasibility of the policies.

Using a matrix approach based on a Markov process, we investigate the reliability of a circular connected-(1,2)-or-(2,1)-out-of-(m,n):F lattice system for the i.i.d. case. We develop a modified linear lattice system that is equivalent to this circular system, and propose a methodology that allows the systematic calculation of the reliability. It is based on ideas presented by Fu and Hu [6]. A partial transition probability matrix is used to reduce the computational complexity of the calculations, and closed formulas are derived for special cases.