On reliability assessment of weighted k-out-of-n systems with multiple types of components

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper studies the reliability function of a weighted k -out-of- n system with multiple types of components. A weighted system with M different types of components is considered and two real-life scenarios for the operation of the system are defined. In the first one, it is assumed that the system operates if the accumulated weight of all active components is more than a predetermined threshold k , otherwise the system fails. In the second scenario, the system is assumed to operate if the total weight of the operating components of type i is more than or equal to the corresponding threshold k i , for at least m types of components, m ≤ M . Our approaches in assessing the reliability function of the system lifetime rely on the notion of survival signature corresponding to multi-type weighted k -out-of- n system. The formulas for the proposed survival signature are presented and the corresponding computational algorithms are also given. To examine the theoretical results, the reliability function and other aging characteristics of a wind farm (system) consisting of three plants located in three different regions are assessed numerically and graphically. Finally, an allocation problem to determine the best choice for the distribution of each type in the weighted k -out-of- n systems is studied.