RESEARCH PAPER
Decision-Oriented Reliability Assessment of Complex Mechatronic Systems based on Stochastic Flow Networks
1
Shanghai Institute of Technology, China
2
Beijing Jiaotong University, China
3
East China University of Science and Technology, China
4
Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China
Submission date: 2026-02-09
Final revision date: 2026-03-13
Acceptance date: 2026-03-27
Online publication date: 2026-04-02
KEYWORDS
Fuzzy theorySystem reliabilityComplex mechatronic systemsStochastic flow networksManagement decision-making
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Conventional reliability assessments for complex mechatronic systems (CMS) often fail to fully account for the specific demands of operational management and maintenance decision-making. To bridge this gap, a hierarchical system reliability modeling approach that combines stochastic flow networks with fuzzy logic theory is introduced. Specifically, a multi-layer stochastic flow network (MSFN) is constructed to simultaneously capture the holistic topology and its dynamic functional execution mechanisms. In this model, minimal paths (MPs) are employed to calculate layer reliability under flow constraints. Concurrently, the 2-additive Choquet integral functions as an aggregation operator to quantify dependencies between different layers. Furthermore, to reduce cognitive uncertainty in expert elicitation, interval hesitant fuzzy sets are combined with the Mahalanobis-Taguchi System. Finally, a functional operator is constructed for system reliability assessment across different decision-making scenarios.
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