Mathematical Problems in Engineering 
Volume 2005 (2005), Issue 1, Pages 75-85
doi:10.1155/MPE.2005.75

Long-run availability of a priority system: a numerical approach

Edmond J. Vanderperre1 and Stanislav S. Makhanov2

 1Department of Quantitative Management, University of South Africa, P.O. Box 392, Pretoria 0003, South Africa
2Faculty of Information Technology, Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology, Thammasat University, P.O. Box 22, Patumthani 12121, Thailand
Received 29 June 2004

Abstract

We consider a two-unit cold standby system attended by two repairmen and subjected to a priority rule. In order to describe the random behavior of the twin system, we employ a stochastic process endowed with state probability functions satisfying coupled Hokstad-type differential equations. An explicit evaluation of the exact solution is in general quite intricate. Therefore, we propose a numerical solution of the equations. Finally, particular but important repair time distributions are involved to analyze the long-run availability of the T-system. Numerical results are illustrated by adequate computer-plotted graphs.