Reliability and mean residual life functions of coherent systems in an active redundancy

In this article, the reliability and the mean residual life (MRL) functions of a system with active redundancies at the component and system levels are investigated. In active redundancy at the component level, the original and redundant components are working together and lifetime of the system is determined by the maximum of lifetime of the original components and their spares. In the active redundancy at the system level, the system has a spare, and the original and redundant systems work together. The lifetime of such a system is then the maximum of lifetimes of the system and its spare. The lifetimes of the original component and the spare are assumed to be dependent random variables. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 64: 19–28, 2017     

On matched active redundancy allocation for coherent systems with statistically dependent component lifetimes

This study addresses the allocation of matched active redundancy components to coherent systems with base components having statistically dependent lifetimes. We consider base component lifetimes and redundancy component lifetimes which are both stochastic arrangement monotone with respect to a pair of components given the lifetimes of the other components. In this context, allocating a more reliable redundancy component to the weaker base component is shown to incur a stochastically larger system lifetime. Numerical examples are presented as an illustration of the theoretical results.     

The “signature” of a coherent system and its application to comparisons among systems

Various methods and criteria for comparing coherent systems are discussed. Theoretical results are derived for comparing systems of a given order when components are assumed to have independent and identically distributed lifetimes. All comparisons rely on the representation of a system's lifetime distribution as a function of the system's “signature,” that is, as a function of the vector p= (p₁, … , p_n), where p_i is the probability that the system fails upon the occurrence of the ith component failure. Sufficient conditions are provided for the lifetime of one system to be larger than that of another system in three different senses: stochastic ordering, hazard rate ordering, and likelihood ratio ordering. Further, a new preservation theorem for hazard rate ordering is established. In the final section, the notion of system signature is used to examine a recently published conjecture regarding componentwise and systemwise redundancy. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 46: 507–523, 1999     

On lifetimes in random environments

For a component operating in random environment, whose hazard rate is assumed to be the realization of a suitable increasing stochastic process, conditions are found such that its lifetime is increasing in likelihood ratio (ILR). For the lifetimes of two components of the same kind some comparisons based on partial stochastic orders are presented. Some applications to the case of repairable components are finally provided. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 45: 365–375, 1998     

多阶段任务系统可靠性并联冗余优化模型

多阶段任务系统是一类普遍存在的复杂系统,研究其可靠性冗余优化对于该类系统设计具有重要的参考价值。针对多阶段任务系统的可靠性并联冗余优化问题,提出了采用冗余故障树和冗余BDD来描述系统冗余结构的方法。给出了冗余模块在多阶段任务系统中的可靠度计算方法,建立了整个冗余多阶段任务系统可靠度计算模型。在此基础上以费用最小为目标,构建多阶段任务系统可靠性冗余优化模型,并应用微粒群算法对模型进行求解。算例验证了模型的合理性及算法的有效性。     

On allocating one active redundancy to coherent systems with dependent and heterogeneous components' lifetimes

This article studies coherent systems of heterogenous and statistically dependent components' lifetimes. We present a sufficient and necessary condition for a stochastically longer system lifetime resulted by allocating a single active redundancy. For exchangeable components' lifetimes, allocating the redundancy to the component with more minimal path sets is proved to produce a more reliable system, and for systems with stochastic arrangement increasing components' lifetimes and symmetric structure with respect to two components, allocating the redundancy to the weaker one brings forth a larger reliability. Several numerical examples are presented to illustrate the theoretical results as well. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 63: 335–345, 2016     

A note on necessary and sufficient conditions for ordering properties of coherent systems with exchangeable components

We give necessary and sufficient conditions based on signatures to obtain distribution‐free stochastic ordering properties for coherent systems with exchangeable components. Specifically, we consider the stochastic, the hazard (failure) rate, the reversed hazard rate, and the likelihood ratio orders. We apply these results to obtain stochastic ordering properties for all the coherent systems with five or less exchangeable components. Our results extend some preceding results. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2011     

Optimal allocation of minimal repairs in parallel and series systems

In reliability engineering, the concept of minimal repair describes that the repair brings the failed unit (eg, system or component) to the situation which is same as it was just before the failure. With the help of the well‐known Gamma‐Poisson relationship, this paper investigates optimal allocation strategies of minimal repairs for parallel and series systems through implementing stochastic comparisons of various allocation policies in terms of the hazard rate, the reversed hazard rate, and the likelihood ratio orderings. Numerical examples are presented to illustrate these findings as well. These results not only strengthen and generalize some known ones in the seminal work of Shaked and Shanthikumar, but also solve the open problems proposed by Chahkandi et al.'s study and Arriaza et al.'s study.     

Bolstering components for maximizing system lifetime

This article considers the problem of which component should be “bolstered” or “improved” in order to stochastically maximize the lifetime of a parallel system, series system, or in general, k-out-of-n system. Various ways of bolstering including active redundance, standby redundancy, and burn-in are studied. Also the method of reducing working temperature or stress level according to Arrhenius models is investigated. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 45: 497–509, 1998     

Some comparisons of residual life of coherent systems with exchangeable components

Most of the research, on the study of the reliability properties of technical systems, assume that the components of the system operate independently. However, in real life situation, it is more reasonable to assume that there is dependency among the components of the system. In this article, we give sufficient conditions based on the signature and the joint distribution of component lifetimes to obtain stochastic ordering results for coherent and mixed systems with exchangeable components. Some stochastic orders on dynamic (or conditional) signature of coherent systems are also provided. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 61: 549–556, 2014     

水下传感器网络冗余设计

冗余设计可以有效地延长水下传感器网络寿命和提高网络可靠性,基于可靠性理论,考虑水下传感器网络环境及节点垂直移动等约束,在对冗余非共享方案研究的基础上,结合水下传感器网络特点,提出了适合于水下传感器网络特点的冗余共享设计方案,并给出了冗余共享方案的可靠性模型,通过数值计算,研究了网络可靠性变化曲线及冗余节点数与网络寿命的关系。经过MATLAB软件仿真,表明在同一网络寿命情况下,相对于冗余非共享方案,冗余共享方案所需冗余节点数更少,降低了网络部署成本,达到了冗余优化的目的。     

基于满意度的多阶段任务系统可靠性冗余优化模型

冗余技术是提高多阶段任务系统可靠性的有效方法,目前对多阶段任务系统可靠性冗余优化研究甚少。分析了静态多阶段任务系统的特征和可靠性计算模型;构建了可靠度、体积、质量和价格的满意度函数并确定各个满意度函数的影响因子;建立了基于综合满意度函数的静态多阶段任务系统可靠性冗余模型,并利用微粒群算法对模型进行求解。算例验证了模型的合理性及算法的有效性。     

Failure profiles of coherent systems

In this paper we first introduce and study the notion of failure profiles which is based on the concepts of paths and cuts in system reliability. The relationship of failure profiles to two notions of component importance is highlighted, and an expression for the density function of the lifetime of a coherent system, with independent and not necessarily identical component lifetimes, is derived. We then demonstrate the way that failure profiles can be used to establish likelihood ratio orderings of lifetimes of two systems. Finally we use failure profiles to obtain bounds, in the likelihood ratio sense, on the lifetimes of coherent systems with independent and not necessarily identical component lifetimes. The bounds are relatively easy to compute and use. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2004     

不同故障模式下的可靠性优化问题

以阀门流体系统为例 ,通过理论分析与数值计算 ,讨论了组成单元具有多个故障模式情形的系统可靠性优化问题 ,对传统的冗余技术作了进一步的发展 ,确立了考虑不同故障模式时可靠性优化的一般模型 ,最后得到了必须根据不同故障模式比率确定配置方式的结论     

基于冗余的复杂体系动态适应性结构设计研究

针对复杂体系动态适应性研究所存在的问题,提出了复杂体系冗余概念和基于冗余的复杂体系动态适应性结构设计思想,讨论了基于冗余的复杂体系动态博弈设计过程及体系结构;在此基础上,根据复杂体系使命目标的执行特点及体系本身的结构特性,详细地阐述了复杂体系中的任务冗余、系统冗余和结构冗余三种冗余类型,并从冗余切换方式、冗余具体内容和冗余表现性质三个方面论述了复杂体系中各种冗余所组成的冗余体系,指出冗余体系是复杂体系适应环境的一种策略,也是复杂体系不断演化的需要和结果,并且能够为复杂体系动态适应性结构的构建及其效能评估和复杂体系的优化及改进等研究提供一定的理论指导。     

Properties of some stochastic orders: A unified study

The notions of the likelihood ratio order of degree s (s ≥ 0) are introduced for both continuous and discrete integer‐valued random variables. The new orders for s = 0, 1, and 2 correspond to the likelihood ratio, hazard rate, and mean residual life orders. We obtain some basic properties of the new orders and their up shifted stochastic orders, and derive some closure properties of them. Such a study is meaningful because it throws an important light on the understanding of the properties of the likelihood ratio, hazard rate, and mean residual life orders. On the other hand, the properties of the new orders have potential applications. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2004.     

Signature based analysis of m‐Consecutive‐k‐out‐of‐n: F systems with exchangeable components

In this article, we study reliability properties of m‐consecutive‐k‐out‐of‐n: F systems with exchangeable components. We deduce exact formulae and recurrence relations for the signature of the system. Closed form expressions for the survival function and the lifetime distribution as a mixture of the distribution of order statistics are established as well. These representations facilitate the computation of several reliability characteristics of the system for a given exchangeable joint distribution or survival function. Finally, we provide signature‐based stochastic ordering results for the system's lifetime and investigate the IFR preservation property under the formulation of m‐consecutive‐k‐out‐of‐n: F systems. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2011     

On the application and extension of system signatures in engineering reliability

Following a review of the basic ideas in structural reliability, including signature‐based representation and preservation theorems for systems whose components have independent and identically distributed (i.i.d.) lifetimes, extensions that apply to the comparison of coherent systems of different sizes, and stochastic mixtures of them, are obtained. It is then shown that these results may be extended to vectors of exchangeable random lifetimes. In particular, for arbitrary systems of sizes m < n with exchangeable component lifetimes, it is shown that the distribution of an m‐component system's lifetime can be written as a mixture of the distributions of k‐out‐of‐n systems. When the system has n components, the vector of coefficients in this mixture representation is precisely the signature of the system defined in Samaniego, IEEE Trans Reliabil R–34 (1985) 69–72. These mixture representations are then used to obtain new stochastic ordering properties for coherent or mixed systems of different sizes. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2008     

Estimating reliability of components with increasing failure rate using series system data

The maximum likelihood estimator (MLE) for a distribution function with increasing failure rate is derived, based on a collection of series system data. Applications can arise in industries where operating environments make available only such system-level data, due to system configuration or type-II censoring. The estimator can be solved using isotonic regression. For the special case in which systems contain one component, the estimator is equivalent to the restricted maximum likelihood estimator of Marshall and Proschan [9]. The MLE is illustrated using emergency diesel generator failure data from the nuclear industry. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 45: 115–123, 1998     

基于速度可控粒子群算法的航天测控系统任务可靠性分配

航天测控系统是一个典型的多阶段任务系统,讨论了可靠性分配时的约束条件和分配目标,构建了其任务可靠性分配模型,针对任务可靠性分配这类复杂的约束组合优化问题,提出了一种速度可控的粒子群优化算法.为克服粒子群算法的早熟问题,该算法引入了速度更新的方向控制规则和尺度控制规则用于增加群体的多样性,并根据两种控制规则,提出了种群粒子的速度更新策略.通过算例仿真,表明算法在用于航天测控系统任务可靠性分配问题时具有分配结果优、收敛速度快等优点.