Importance and sensitivity analysis in assessing system reliability

After reviewing various importance concepts adopted in reliability, the authors propose a method for sensitivity analysis. The method uses the heuristically based generalized perturbation theory (GPT) methodology, widely adopted in reactor-physics studies. The concept of importance of a state in the Markov model representation of systems is introduced. The resulting formulations apply to any response of interest in reliability analysis. The relationship between the GPT method and Birnbaum importance is given.>