GERT analysis of m-consecutive-\(k\)-out-of-\(n:\mathrm{F}\) system with overlapping runs and (\(k\)-1)-step Markov dependence (Q2427720)

Summary: An m-consecutive-\(k\)-out-of-\(n\):F system is a system of \(n\) linearly ordered components which fails if and only if at least \(m\) non-overlapping sequences of \(k\) consecutive components fail. When \(m\) = 1, we have the classic consecutive-\(k\)-out-of-\(n\):F system about which there is an extensive literature. In this paper, we study the situation in which a system consisting of \(n\) linearly ordered sequence of components fails if and only if there are at least \(m\) overlapping runs of \(k\) consecutive failed components. Graphical Evaluation and Review Technique (GERT) analysis is used for reliability evaluation of the system for both, i.i.d. components and (\(k\)-1)-step Markov dependent components, in a unified manner. Software Mathematica is used for systematic computation. Illustrative numerical examples are presented to substantiate the theory.