The Mean Residual Life Function of a<tex>$k$</tex>-out-of-<tex>$n$</tex>Structure at the System Level

Abstract

In the study of the reliability of technical systems, k-out-of-n systems play an important role. In the present paper, we consider a k-out-of-n system consisting of n identical components with independent lifetimes having a common distribution function F. Under the condition that, at time t, all the components of the system are working, we propose a new definition for the mean residual life (MRL) function of the system, and obtain several properties of that system.