Mode-based reliability centered maintenance in transmission system

Reliability centered maintenance (RCM) is a cost-effective way to maintaining complex systems, transmission network being one. This paper presents a new method for nonperiodic maintenance scheduling of transmission's elements focusing on failure mode analysis. Adopting a nonperiodic mode-based viewpoint to maintenance, this paper introduces 6 plans for maintenance in each failure mode. The related Markov model for each plan is proposed, too. Given these Markov models, attempts are made to determine the best strategy of maintenance and the optimum rate of inspection and maintenance for each mode. Furthermore, to increase the practicality of the presented method and to reduce the overall maintenance cost, we coordinated the maintenance plans of the failure modes of an element, together. Finally, applicability of the presented method is demonstrated using an illustrative example.