675.761.8VL - Reliability Engineering and Analysis
Description
This course covers the principal methods of reliability analysis as it pertains to space systems. These seek to help development teams to anticipate and find design and operational issues. Basic analytical techniques covered include fault tree and reliability block diagrams; Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA); event tree construction and evaluation; and reliability data collection and analysis. More advanced techniques of risk and reliability modeling of systems include Bayesian methods and applications, estimation of rare event frequencies, uncertainty analysis and propagation methods. These methods and techniques are integrated into quantitative assessments to address hardware, software, and human reliabilities, as well as their dependencies.
Expanded Course Description
Prerequisites
Completion of 675.600 Systems Engineering for Space and 675.601 Fundamentals of Engineering Space Systems I, or with approval of the instructor.
Instructor
Clay Smith
Course Structure
The course materials are divided into modules which can be accessed by clickingModules on the menu. A module will have several sections including the overview, content, readings, discussions, and assignments. You are encouraged to preview all sections of the module before starting. You should regularly check the Calendar and Announcements for assignment due dates.
Course Topics
- Background & Programmatics
- Reliability Mathematics
- Reliability Models
- Bayesian Parameter Estimation
- System Reliability Analysis
- Repairable Systems Reliability & Availability
- Probabilistic Risk Assessment
- Uncertainty Analysis
- Probabilistic Physics of Failure Modeling
- Space Environment Effects
- Human Reliability Analysis
- Software Reliability Analysis
Course Goals
To identify and describe the characteristics and responsibilities of a reliability engineer and then apply that knowledge analyze space systems.
Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)
- Explain theoretical principles and practical approaches.
- Create and use reliability models of ground, launch, and space systems.
- Identify potential failures and weak points in space system designs.
- Determine failure model parameters from failure and anomaly data.
- Combine data and expert opinion using Bayesian data analysis techniques.
- Quantify the probability of failure for engineered systems.
- Communicate uncertainties of analysis in a quantifiable and traceable manner.
Textbooks
Required
Modarres, Kaminskiy, & Krivtsov. Reliability Engineering and Risk Analysis: A Practical Guide, (3rd Edition).
Other Materials & Online Resources
Other references will be cited in the lecture slides as topics come up.
Required Software
The assignments will be made much easier if you have access to a mathematical software package or programming language to include but not limited to:
- Mathematica
- MATLAB
- R
- Excel will do but not recommended
Student Coursework Requirements
It is expected that each module will take approximately 7–10 hours per week to complete. Here is an approximate breakdown: reading the assigned sections of the texts (approximately 3–4 hours per week) as well as some outside reading, listening to the audio annotated slide presentations (approximately 2–3 hours per week), and writing assignments (approximately 2–3 hours per week).
This course will consist of the following basic student requirements:
Assignments (15% of Final Grade Calculation)Assignments will include a mix of qualitative assignments (e.g. literature reviews, model summaries), quantitative problem sets, and case study updates. Include a cover sheet with your name and assignment identifier. Also include your name and a page number indicator (i.e., page x of y) on each page of your submissions. Each problem should have the problem statement, assumptions, computations, and conclusions/discussion delineated. All Figures and Tables should be captioned and labeled appropriately.
All assignments are due according to the dates in the Calendar.
Full credit for attempting the problems and showing all work.
Course Project (35% of Final Grade Calculation)A course project will be assigned several weeks into the course. The next-to-the-last week will be devoted to the course project.
The course project is evaluated by the following grading elements:
- Student preparation and participation (as described in Course Project Description) (40%)
- Student technical understanding of the course project topic (as related to individual role that the student assumes and described in the Course Project Description) (20%)
- Team preparation and participation (as described in Course Project Description) (20%)
- Team technical understanding of the course project topic (as related to the Customer Team roles assumed by the students and the Seller Team roles assumed by the students and described in the Course Project Description) (20%)
Course Project is graded as follows:
100–90 = A—Student Preparation and Participation/ Team Preparation and Participation [individual/ team roles and responsibilities well defined and understood; individual/ team well versed in use of Adobe Connect; individual/ team work product(s) agreed to, well prepared and available to all team members/ instructors]; Student Understanding/ Team Understanding [rich in content; full of thought, insight, and analysis].
89–80 = B—Student Preparation and Participation/ Team Preparation and Participation [individual/ team roles and responsibilities well defined and understood; individual/ team well versed in use of Adobe Connect; individual/ team work product(s) agreed to and prepared]; Student Understanding/ Team Understanding [substantial information; thought, insight, and analysis has taken place].
79–70 = C—Student Preparation and Participation/ Team Preparation and Participation [individual/ team roles and responsibilities agreed to; individual/ team well versed in use of Adobe Connect; individual/ team work product(s) prepared]; Student Understanding/ Team Understanding [generally competent; information is thin and commonplace].
Exams (50% of Final Grade Calculation, combined from 25% for Midterm and 25% for Final)The midterm exam will be available in week 6 and the final exam will be available in week 12. You will have one week to complete the exams and they will be due by 5PM exactly one week from their release. You may use the course text to complete the exams.
The exams are evaluated by the following grading elements:
- Each part of question is answered (20%)
- Writing quality and technical accuracy (30%) (Writing is expected to meet or exceed accepted graduate- level English and scholarship standards. That is, all assignments will be graded on grammar and style as well as content.)
- Rationale for answer is provided (20%)
- Examples are included to illustrate rationale (15%) (If a student does not have direct experience related to a particular question, then the student is to provide analogies versus examples.)
- Outside references are included (15%)
Exams are graded as follows:
100–90 = A—All parts of question are addressed; Writing Quality/ Rationale/ Examples/ Outside References [rich in content; full of thought, insight, and analysis].
89–80 = B—All parts of the question are addressed; Writing Quality/ Rationale/ Examples/ Outside References [substantial information; thought, insight, and analysis has taken place].
79–70 = C—Majority of parts of the question are addressed; Writing Quality/ Rationale/ Examples/ Outside References [generally competent; information is thin and commonplace].
Grading Policy
Assignments are due according to the dates posted in your Canvas course site. You may check these due dates in the Course Calendar or the Assignments in the corresponding modules. I/We will post grades one week after assignment due dates.
We generally do not directly grade spelling and grammar. However, egregious violations of the rules of the English language will be noted without comment. Consistently poor performance in either spelling or grammar is taken as an indication of poor written communication ability that may detract from your grade.
A grade of A indicates achievement of consistent excellence and distinction throughout the course— that is, conspicuous excellence in all aspects of assignments and discussion in every week.
A grade of B indicates work that meets all course requirements on a level appropriate for graduate academic work. These criteria apply to both undergraduates and graduate students taking the course.
EP uses a +/- grading system (see “Grading System”, Graduate Programs catalog, p. 10).
| Score Range | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 100-98 | = A+ |
| 97-94 | = A |
| 93-90 | = A− |
| 89-87 | = B+ |
| 86-83 | = B |
| 82-80 | = B− |
| 79-77 | = C+ |
| 76-73 | = C |
| 72-70 | = C− |
| 69-67 | = D+ |
| 66-63 | = D |
| <63 | = F |
Final grades will be determined by the following weighting:
| Item | % of Grade |
| Assignments | 15% |
| Course Project | 35% |
| Exams (Midterm + Final) | 50% (25% + 25%) |
Academic Policies
Deadlines for Adding, Dropping, and Withdrawing from Courses
Students may add a course up to one week after the start of the term for that particular course. Students may drop courses according to the drop deadlines outlined in the EP academic calendar. Between the 6th week of the class and prior to the final withdrawal deadline, a student may withdraw from a course with a W on their academic record. A record of the course will remain on the academic record with a W appearing in the grade column to indicate that the student registered and withdrew from the course.
Academic Misconduct Policy
Students with Disabilities - Accommodations and Accessibility
Student Conduct Code
Classroom Climate
JHU is committed to creating a classroom environment that values the diversity of experiences and perspectives that all students bring. Everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. Fostering an inclusive climate is important. Research and experience show that students who interact with peers who are different from themselves learn new things and experience tangible educational outcomes. At no time in this learning process should someone be singled out or treated unequally on the basis of any seen or unseen part of their identity. If you have concerns in this course about harassment, discrimination, or any unequal treatment, or if you seek accommodations or resources, please reach out to the course instructor directly. Reporting will never impact your course grade. You may also share concerns with your program chair, the Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, or the Office of Institutional Equity. In handling reports, people will protect your privacy as much as possible, but faculty and staff are required to officially report information for some cases (e.g. sexual harassment).
Course Auditing
When a student enrolls in an EP course with “audit” status, the student must reach an understanding with the instructor as to what is required to earn the “audit.” If the student does not meet those expectations, the instructor must notify the EP Registration Team (EP-Registration@exchange.johnshopkins.edu) in order for the student to be retroactively dropped or withdrawn from the course (depending on when the "audit" was requested and in accordance with EP registration deadlines). All lecture content will remain accessible to auditing students, but access to all other course material is left to the discretion of the instructor.