1. What is the Probability of Failure Formula?

The Probability of Failure (PF) formula calculates the likelihood that a system or component will fail, based on its reliability. It is a fundamental concept in reliability engineering and risk assessment.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Probability of Failure formula:

Where:

• \( PF \) — Probability of Failure (decimal)
• \( Reliability \) — System reliability (decimal, 0 to 1)

Explanation: The formula represents the complementary relationship between reliability and failure probability. If a system has 95% reliability, it has a 5% probability of failure.

3. Importance of Failure Probability Calculation

Details: Calculating failure probability is crucial for risk assessment, safety analysis, maintenance planning, and designing reliable systems in engineering, manufacturing, and quality control.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter reliability as a decimal value between 0 and 1. For example, 95% reliability should be entered as 0.95.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the relationship between reliability and failure probability?
A: They are complementary - reliability + failure probability = 1. If reliability is 0.9, failure probability is 0.1.

Q2: What are typical reliability values?
A: High-reliability systems typically have reliability > 0.99, while critical systems may require > 0.9999 reliability.

Q3: How is reliability determined?
A: Reliability is typically determined through testing, historical data analysis, or reliability prediction methods.

Q4: Can failure probability be zero?
A: In practical terms, no system has zero failure probability. Even highly reliable systems have some small probability of failure.

Q5: How is this used in engineering?
A: Engineers use failure probability to design safety margins, determine maintenance schedules, and assess system risks.