Reliability Models for Redundant Systems Using Phase-type Distributions

This paper presents the reliability models for redundant systems composed of repairable components whose failure time and repair time distributions are phase-type. It is shown that the distribution of time to system failure is also phase-type. The dependency between components are considered and integrated into the model by the used of the rate adjustment factor. The phase-type representation is constructed for the system through algebraic operations on the parameters of components\` failure time and repair time distributions and the corresponding rate adjustment factors. Types of system structures considered are parallel, k-out-of-N system with load sharing scheme and standby system with operation priority.