Reliability of a load-sharing k-out-of-n:G system: non-iid components with arbitrary distributions

This paper develops a model to calculate the reliability of a load-sharing k-out-of-n:G system which is composed of nonidentical components each having an arbitrary failure time distribution. The components are nonrepairable, and once failed, will be removed from the system immediately. The event of a component failure will result in a higher load, therefore inducing a higher failure rate, in each of the surviving components. The authors assume that the failure time distribution of the component can be represented by the accelerated failure time model which is also a proportional hazards model when the baseline reliability is Weibull. This model is more general and realistic than models assuming i.i.d components with exponential failure time distributions. Special cases for the load-sharing 1-out-of-2:G system and several areas where the method can be applied are discussed.