Linear Dependence in Consecutive k-out-of-n: F Systems

A consecutive k−out−of-n: F system is a coherent system of n-ordered components that functions if and only if there is no consecutive run of k failures among the components. Examples of such systems exist in telecommunications, oil pipelines, and integrated circuitry. Most of the research in reliability of consecutive k−out-of-n: F systems assumes that the components function independently of one another. In this paper, we develop a model incorporating positive dependence between adjacent components and show that for k ≥ (n + l)/2, the reliability of the system is a decreasing function of this dependence.