On the mean residual life of a generalized k-out-of-n system

ABSTRACT

A generalized k-out-of-n system consists of N modules in which the i th module is composed of n_i components in parallel. The system failswhen at least f components in the whole system or at least k consecutive modules have failed. In this article, we obtain the mean residual life function of such a generalized k-out-of-n system under different conditions, namely, when the number of components in each module is equal or unequal and when the components of the system are independent or exchangeable.

KEYWORDS:

• Consecutive k-out-of-n system
• Exchangeable distribution
• Generalized k-out-of-n system
• Mean residual life function
• Survival function.

AMS SUBJECT CLASSIFICATION CODE:

• 62N05

Acknowledgments

The first author thanks Isfahan University of Technology.

Additional information

Funding

The research of Prof. Min Xie was supported by a grant from the City University of Hong Kong (Project No.9380058) and of Prof. N. Balakrishnan was supported by a discovery grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.