Citation:
Yuan Lin Zhang, Shaomin Wu, Reliability analysis for a k/n(F) system with repairable repair-equipment, Applied Mathematical Modelling, Volume 33, Issue 7, July 2009, Pages 3052-3067
Abstract:
In this paper, the reliability and replacement policy of a k/n(F) (i.e. k-out-
of-n: F) system with repairable repair-equipment is analyzed. We assume that
both the working and repair times of all components in the system and the
repair-equipment follow exponential distributions, and the repairs on the
components are perfect whereas that on the repair-equipment is imperfect. Under
these assumptions, by using the geometric process, the vector Markov process and
the queueing theory, we derive reliability indices for such a system and discuss
its properties. We also optimize a replacement policy N under which the repair-
equipment is replaced whenever its failure number reaches N. The explicit
expression for the expected cost rate (i.e. the expected long-run cost per unit
time) of the repair-equipment is derived, and the corresponding optimal
replacement policy N* can be obtained analytically or numerically. Finally, a
numerical example for policy N is given.