On [formula omitted]-out-of-[formula omitted] systems with homogeneous components and one independent cold standby redundancy

Abstract

In this note, we study a k-out-of-n system with component lifetimes linked by Archimedean (survival) copula and independent of the lifetime of a cold standby redundancy. We derive the survival function and the residual life function of the redundant system. Also, we examine how the redundancy and the system structure impact the system reliability through developing the usual stochastic order on system lifetime. In particular, for parallel systems we investigate the role played by the component lifetime, the generator of Archimedean copula, and the starting time of the redundancy as well. The present framework well relates to the real situation and thus the main results are instructive to reliability engineers.