A Two-Layer Factor and Cloud Model-Based Approach to Reliability Allocation

Traditional reliability allocation methods face three inherent limitations: (1) the insufficient consideration of influencing factors, (2) the equal treatment of impact factors, and (3) the presence of fuzzy information. To overcome these issues, we propose an integrated reliability allocation method that combines a two-layer integrated factors framework with a cloud model. First, a two-layer framework of influencing factors was constructed, and a mathematical model for global evaluation based on these factors was developed, along with an indicator allocation model derived from the evaluation model. The cloud model was employed to quantitatively express experts’ linguistic evaluations, eliminating the influence of randomness and fuzziness in the assessment process. Both theoretical analysis and practical examples show that the proposed method outperforms three other reliability allocation methods.