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When Is a System Better Than the Average of Its Components?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 July 2009

Thore Egeland
Affiliation:
Norwegian Computing Center, Box 114 Blindern, N-0314 Oslo, Norway

Abstract

This paper provides simple conditions for when the reliability of a system of independent components is better (worse) than the average reliability of the components. This result is useful in cases where little is known of the component reliabilities or the structure.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1994

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