Journal of Applied Mathematics and Stochastic Analysis
Volume 2006 (2006), Article ID 39093, 23 pages
doi:10.1155/JAMSA/2006/39093
Abstract
We consider a k-out-of-N reliability
system with identical components having exponential lifetimes.
There is a single repairman who attends to failed components on a
first-come first-served basis. The repair times are assumed to be
of phase type. The system has K spares that can be used according to a probabilistic rule to extend the lifetime of the system. The system is analyzed using Markov chain theory and some
interesting results are obtained. A few illustrative numerical
examples are discussed.