On the use of stochastic processes in modeling reliability problems (Q1065700)

This monograph is based on the subject material taught by the author at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zürich. It is also the habilitation work by the author at the same university. The book is intended for research workers and graduate students. Reliability analysis for systems is generally performed at two different levels: subassembly level and system level. For the later, investigations are performed either analytically (using stochastic processes) or numerically (using Monte Carlo simulations). Important stochastic processes employed in the study of reliability models are: renewal processes, alternating renewal processes, Markov processes, semi-Markov processes, regenerative stochastic processes and some kinds of non- regenerative stochastic processes. The author reviews this class of stochastic processes in chapter 3 and uses them in the subsequent chapters to solve some problems encountered in practical applications. Emphasis is given to comprehensive exposition of the analytical procedures, their limitations and to the unification and extension of the models. There are six chapters: 1. Introduction and summary. 2. Basic concepts of reliability analysis. 3. Stochastic processes used in modelling reliability problems. 4. Applications to one-item repairable structures. 5. Applications to series, parallel and series/parallel repairable structures. 6. Applications to repairable systems of complex structures and to special topics. In addition, there is a bibliography of 372 items. The main characteristic of the book is its admirable conciseness. While this has resulted in a compact and nice presentation, it may prove to be a hurdle for many readers. Since the results of chapter 3 are effectively used in the solution of problems considered in the later chapters, this reviewer believes that it would have been more beneficial for many had chapter 3 been written not so concisely; it should have been enlarged and amplified. The style of writing is clear and pleasant. The book is certainly one of the best modern books on stochastic models for reliability problems.