On stochastic comparisons of k-out-of-n systems with Weibull components

In this paper we prove that a parallel system consisting of Weibull components with different scale parameters ages faster than a parallel system comprising Weibull components with equal scale parameters in the convex transform order when the lifetimes of components of both systems have different shape parameters satisfying some restriction. Moreover, while comparing these two systems, we show that the dispersive and the usual stochastic orders, and the right-spread order and the increasing convex order are equivalent. Further, some of the known results in the literature concerning comparisons of k-out-of-n systems in the exponential model are extended to the Weibull model. We also provide solutions to two open problems mentioned by Balakrishnan and Zhao (2013) and Zhao et al. (2016).

ON SKEWNESS AND DISPERSION AMONG CONVOLUTIONS OF INDEPENDENT GAMMA RANDOM VARIABLES

Let {x(1)≤···≤x(n)} denote the increasing arrangement of the components of a vector x=(x1, …, xn). A vector x∈Rn majorizes another vector y (written $\bf{x} \mathop{\succeq}\limits^{m} \bf{y}$) if $\sum_{i=1}^{j} x_{(i)} \le \sum_{i=1}^{j}y_{(i)}$ for j = 1, …, n−1 and $\sum_{i=1}^{n}x_{(i)} = \sum_{i=1}^{n}y_{(i)}$. A vector x∈R+n majorizes reciprocally another vector y∈R+n (written $\bf{x} \mathop{\succeq}\limits^{rm} \bf{y}$) if $\sum_{i=1}^{j}(1/x_{(i)}) \ge \sum_{i=1}^{j}(1/y_{(i)})$ for j = 1, …, n. Let $X_{\lambda_{i},\alpha},\,i=1,\ldots,n$, be n independent random variables such that $X_{\lambda_{i},\alpha}$ is a gamma random variable with shape parameter α≥1 and scale parameter λi, i = 1, …, n. We show that if $\lambda \mathop{\succeq}\limits^{rm} \lambda^{\ast}$, then $\sum_{i=1}^{n} X_{\lambda_{i},\alpha}$ is greater than $\sum_{i=1}^{n} X_{\lambda^{\ast}_{i},\alpha}$ according to right spread order as well as mean residual life order. We also prove that if $(1/ \lambda_{1}, \ldots ,1/ \lambda_{n}) \mathop{\succeq}\limits^{m} \succeq (1/ \lambda_{1}^{\ast}, \ldots , 1/ \lambda_{n}^{\ast})$, then $\sum_{i=1}^{n} X_{\lambda_{i}, \alpha}$ is greater than $\sum_{i=1}^{n} X_{\lambda^{\ast}_{i},\alpha}$ according to new better than used in expectation order as well as Lorenze order. These results mainly generalize the recent results of Kochar and Xu [7] and Zhao and Balakrishnan [14] from convolutions of independent exponential random variables to convolutions of independent gamma random variables with common shape parameters greater than or equal to 1.

Comparisons of Parallel Systems According to the Convex Transform Order

A parallel system with heterogeneous exponential component lifetimes is shown to be more skewed (according to the convex transform order) than the system with independent and identically distributed exponential components. As a consequence, equivalent conditions for comparing the variabilities of the largest order statistics from heterogeneous and homogeneous exponential samples in the sense of the dispersive order and the right-spread order are established. A sufficient condition is also given for the proportional hazard rate model.

Comparisons of Parallel Systems According to the Convex Transform Order

A parallel system with heterogeneous exponential component lifetimes is shown to be more skewed (according to the convex transform order) than the system with independent and identically distributed exponential components. As a consequence, equivalent conditions for comparing the variabilities of the largest order statistics from heterogeneous and homogeneous exponential samples in the sense of the dispersive order and the right-spread order are established. A sufficient condition is also given for the proportional hazard rate model.

FURTHER RESULTS INVOLVING THE MIT ORDER AND THE IMIT CLASS

The purpose of this article is to study several preservation properties of the mean inactivity time order under the reliability operations of convolution, mixture, and shock models. In that context, the increasing mean inactivity time class of lifetime distributions is characterized by means of right spread order and increasing convex order. Some applications in reliability theory are described. Finally, a new test of such a class is discussed.

DISPERSION-TYPE VARIABILITY ORDERS

Dispersion-type orders are introduced and studied. The new orders can be used to compare the variability of the underlying random variables, among which are the usual dispersive order and the right spread order. Connections among the new orders and other common stochastic orders are examined and investigated. Some closure properties of the new orders under the operation of order statistics, transformations, and mixtures are derived. Finally, several applications of the new orders are given.