Consequences of Departures From Independence in Exponential Series Systems

Abstract

This article investigates the consequences of departures from independence when the component lifetimes in a series system are exponentially distributed. Such departures are studied when the joint distribution is assumed to follow a Gumbel bivariate exponential model. Two distinct situations are considered. First, in theoretical modeling of series systems, when the distribution of the component lifetimes is assumed, one wishes to compute system reliability and mean system life. Second, errors in parametric and nonparametric estimation of component reliability and component mean life are studied based on life-test data collected on series systems when the assumption of independence is made erroneously. Systems with two components are studied.