Optimal Reliability Modeling
Principles and Applications
Chapter One
THE k-OUT-OF-n SYSTEM MODEL
An n-component system that works (or is "good") if and only if at least k of
the n components work (or are good) is called a k-out-of-n:G system. An n-component
system that fails if and only if at least k of the n components fail is
called a k-out-of-n:F system. Based on these two definitions, a k-out-of-n:G system
is equivalent to an (n - k + 1)-out-of-n:F system. The term k-out-of-n system
is often used to indicate either a G system or an F system or both. Since the value of n
is usually larger than the value of k, redundancy is generally built into a k-out-of-n
system. Both parallel and series systems are special cases of the k-out-of-n system.
A series system is equivalent to a 1-out-of-n:F system and to an n-out-of-n:G system
... read full excerpt from Optimal Reliability Modeling: Principles and Applications ebook
