Reliability assessment methodology for 1-shot systems

Much of the reliability literature focuses on analysis of continuously operating systems. However, there are many applications for which the system is a 1-shot device or a particular function of the system is 1-shot. For many of these applications the 1-shot device spends much of its life in dormant storage. A common example of this is a weapon system, although there are also numerous other examples such as fire suppression systems, nuclear power plant fail-safe systems, protection or deterrent systems, and various manned and unmanned spacecraft systems. This paper outlines some of the challenges of 1-shot device analysis. An existing 1-shot system reliability analysis approach, that for nuclear weapons, is described. Some of the other important characteristics that influence the approach are also highlighted. Although illustrated in the context of nuclear weapon systems, many of the aspects of the described approach are relevant to other applications.