| Abstract: | Using the theory of Hirsch, Meisner, and Boll, we study the consequences of interchanging parts within a generalized coherent structure. This procedure has been termed “cannibalization.” The theory of cannibalization is extended to the case where each component can operate at several levels of partial performance and a representation theorem is derived, which expresses the state of a system as a function of the number of working parts at each level. The stochastic theory of these systems is then investigated. |
