On Stochastic Comparisons for Load-Sharing Series and Parallel Systems

Abstract

We study the allocation strategies for redundant components in the load-sharing series/parallel systems. We show that under the specified assumptions, the allocation of a redundant component to the stochastically weakest (strongest) component of a series (parallel) system is the best strategy to achieve its maximal reliability. The results have been studied under cumulative exposure model and for a general scenario as well. They have a clear intuitive meaning, however, the corresponding additional assumptions are not obvious, which can be seem from the proofs of our theorems