%0 Journal Article
%T General formula for upper bound of probability of failure
%J Reliability engineering
%D 1984
%A Ichikawa, M.
%V 8
%N 1
%P 57-62
%X A formula for upper bound of probability of failure is proposed for the case in which the failure condition is expressed in the general form of H (x1, x2,..., xn)≤ 0 where x1, x2,..., xn are relevant variables. This is an extension of the previous formula for the case in which the failure condition is expressed as H (R,S)≤0 where R and S are the strength and stress, respectively. This formula can be a useful tool for reliability evaluation when only the means and the variances of relevant variables are known and their distribution forms are unknown or unclear. This paper also reveals a relation between upper bound of probability of failure and the so-called safety index. This relation gives a quantitative base to the safety index.<p />
%G 
%I Elsevier Publishing
%@ 0143-8174
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0143-8174(84)90035-0