Shock and damage models in reliability theory (Q859492)

The book describes various models of shock and damage in reliability theory, and derives the optimal policies for such models. For example, in the model of Chapter 3, a unit may be replaced before failure at a planned time \(T\), or at a shock number \(N\), or at a damage level \(Z\). The task that arises then is to find the optimal values of \(T\), \(N\), and \(Z\) which minimize, for example, the expected cost rate. The corresponding optimal values are obtained and described. The above example is typical of the kind of results that the book studies and solves. After three introductory chapters the author concentrates on some specific models. Here is how the author describes the contents of the monograph in the preface: ``Chapter 4 is devoted to a parallel system whose units fail subject to shocks and a two-unit system whose units fail by interaction with induced failure and shock damage. Chapters 5 and 6 are devoted to replacement and preventive maintenance policies in which the total damage is investigated only at periodic times. Chapter 7 considers imperfect preventive maintenance policies in which the preventive maintenance is done at sequential times and reduces the total damage. \dots Chapters 8 and 9 take up the garbage collection of a computer system and the backup scheme of a database system as typical practical examples of damage models. Chapter 10 is devoted to reviewing briefly similar related models presented in other fields such as shot noise, insurance, and stochastic duels.'' The reviewed text is related to an earlier monograph by the same author [Maintenance theory of reliability. Springer (2005)]. The earlier monograph did not deal with any particular shock or damage models. However, in the reviewed text, optimal maintenance policies are theoretically discussed using the results of the earlier monograph. The reviewed text covers a large number of shock and damage models, and opens new areas of research. It can be found to be useful to graduate students and researchers in reliability theory.