Statistics of the three-parameter weibull distribution

We consider the estimation of the parameters of the three-parameter Weibull distribution, with particular emphasis on the unknown endpoint of the distribution. We summarize recent results on the asymptotic behaviour of maximum likelihood estimators. We continue with an example in which maximum likelihood and Bayesian estimators arc compared. We conclude that there are practical advantages to the Bayesian approach, but the study also suggests ways in which the maximum likelihood analysis may be improved.     

Finding maximum likelihood estimators for the three-parameter Weibull distribution

Much work has been devoted to the problem of finding maximum likelihood estimators for the three-parameter Weibull distribution. This problem has not been clearly recognized as a global optimization one and most methods from the literature occasionally fail to find a global optimum. We develop a global optimization algorithm which uses first order conditions and projection to reduce the problem to a univariate optimization one. Bounds on the resulting function and its first order derivative are obtained and used in a branch-and-bound scheme. Computational experience is reported. It is also shown that the solution method we propose can be extended to the case of right censored samples.     

On a generalized mixture of standard normal and skew normal distributions

Here we propose a new class of distributions as a generalized mixture of standard normal and skew normal distributions (GMNSND) and study some of its properties by deriving its characteristic function, mean, variance, coefficient of skewness etc. Further, certain reliability aspects of GMNSND are studied and a location scale extension of GMNSND is considered. The estimation of the parameters of this extended GMNSND by the method of maximum likelihood is discussed.     

Exact maximum likelihood estimator of the structure of a stratified population

An exact expression for the extreme values of the integer vector that maximize the function

Assessing the reliability of a nanocomponent using nanocrack growth

In nanoscience and nanotechnology, much attention has been given to the dual problem of designing nanocomponents with novel physical properties and how such nanocomponents can be fabricated. Receiving less attention has been the question of the nanocomponent's reliability; how does a nanocomponent fail and how long does a nanocomponent survive under typical operating conditions? High reliability is necessary to guarantee the advancement and utilization of nanocomponents due to the fact that they account for a high proportion of costs of newly designed nanosystems as well as multiscale systems. A nanocomponent is a component that is made of atoms, and its reliability is determined by these atoms. There are situations where it is hard or impossible to extract information from a nanocomponent about its relationship to its atoms. In this article, we assess the nanocomponent's reliability by using its physical properties. Specifically, it is known that nanocrack growth involves considerable statistical variability and such variability should be accounted for assessing growth. In this paper, we first provide a stochastic nanocrack growth model and then evaluate the reliability of a nanocomponent based on this model. Various properties of this model are obtained. We also evaluate the reliability of a nanocomponent under different assumptions on our proposed growth model. This paper is a modification of the extensive literature on modeling fatigue cracks in materials on a larger scale, applied to nanoscale where growth is not a function of cumulative stress on the component but related to the time to first exceedance of a threshold. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Analysis for joint importance of components in a coherent system

JRI (Joint Reliability Importance) of two components is a measure of interaction of two components in a system for their contribution to the system reliability. It is defined as the rate at which the system reliability improves as the reliabilities of the two components improve. But, sometimes we may improve system reliability through improving reliabilities of three or more components. This article extends the concepts of JRI & JFI (Joint Failure Importance) of two components to multi-components, and establishes some relationships between JRI & JRI, JFI & JFI, and JFI & JRI. The paper also investigates the concept of Conditional Reliability Importance while the working states of certain components are known. Finally, the JRI of multi-components and Conditional Reliability Importance are analyzed in detail for a k-out-of-n:G system.     

WEIBULL分布步进应力加速寿命试验损伤失效率模型参数的近似极大似然估计和逆矩估计

Bhattacharyya和Soejoeti(1980)对步进应力加速寿命试验提出损伤失效率模型(TFR模型)．本针对TFR模型，对两参数Weibull分布，在步进应力加速试验下给出了参数的近似极大似然估计和逆矩估计，并通过Montr-Carlo模拟考察了估计的精度，比较了各估计的优劣。     

Analysis of two-sample censored data using a semiparametric mixture model

In this article we study a semiparametric mixture model for the two-sample problem with right censored data. The model implies that the densities for the continuous outcomes are related by a parametric tilt but otherwise unspecified. It provides a useful alternative to the Cox （1972） proportional hazards model for the comparison of treatments based on right censored survival data. We propose an iterative algorithm for the semiparametric maximum likelihood estimates of the parametric and nonparametric components of the model. The performance of the proposed method is studied using simulation. We illustrate our method in an application to melanoma.     

Maximum likelihood estimation of a change-point in the distribution of independent random variables: General multiparameter case

In a sequence ofn independent random variables the pdf changes fromf(x, 0) tof(x, 0 + δv_n⁻¹) after the firstnλ variables. The problem is to estimateλ (0, 1 ), where 0 and δ are unknownd-dim parameters andv_n → ∞ slower thann^1/2. Let_n denote the maximum likelihood estimator (mle) ofλ. Analyzing the local behavior of the likelihood function near the true parameter values it is shown under regularity conditions that ifn_n²(− λ) is bounded in probability asn → ∞, then it converges in law to the timeT_(δjδ)^1/2 at which a two-sided Brownian motion (B.M.) with drift1/2(δ′Jδ)^1/2ton(−∞, ∞) attains its a.s. unique minimum, whereJ denotes the Fisher-information matrix. This generalizes the result for small change in mean of univariate normal random variables obtained by Bhattacharya and Brockwell (1976,Z. Warsch. Verw. Gebiete37, 51–75) who also derived the distribution ofT_μ forμ > 0. For the general case an alternative estimator is constructed by a three-step procedure which is shown to have the above asymptotic distribution. In the important case of multiparameter exponential families, the construction of this estimator is considerably simplified.     

Inference for a progressive stress model from Weibull distribution under progressive type-II censoring

Based on progressively type-II censored samples, this paper considers progressive stress accelerated life tests when the lifetime of an item under use condition follows the Weibull distribution with a scale parameter satisfying the inverse power law. It is assumed that the progressive stress is directly proportional to time and the cumulative exposure model for the effect of changing stress holds. Point estimation of the model parameters is obtained graphically by using Weibull probability paper plot that serves as a tool for model identification and also by using the maximum likelihood method. Interval estimation is performed by finding approximate confidence intervals (CIs) for the parameters as well as the studentized-t and percentile bootstrap CIs. Monte Carlo simulation study is carried out to investigate the precision of the estimates and compare the performance of CIs obtained. Finally, two examples are presented to illustrate our results.     

软件可靠性M-O模型和逆线性模型的参数估计

Musa-Okumoto模型和逆线性模型是研究软件可靠性的重要模型，给出了在分组数据下，M－O模型和逆线性模型中参数的最大似然估计及其存在的充分性条件，指出了[4]中的错误，并且给出了一个实例。     

TFR模型序加试验下WEIBULL分布产品寿命的统计分析

本文针对损伤效率(TFR)模型,首次提出将步加试验推广至序加试验,给出了两参数Weibull分布参数的极大似然估计.     

Pareto分布环境因子的估计及其应用

给出了Pareto分布环境因子的定义,讨论了在定数截尾样本下Pareto分布环境因子的极大似然估计和修正极大似然估计,并尝试把环境因子用于可靠性评估中.最后运用Monte Carlo方法对极大似然估计,修正极大似然估计和可靠性指标的均方误差(MSE),进行了模拟比较,结果表明修正极大似然估计优于极大似然估计且考虑环境因子的可靠性评估结果较好.     

Estimation in a Discrete Reliability Growth Model Under an Inverse Sampling Scheme

This paper develops a discrete reliability growth (RG) model for an inverse sampling scheme, e.g., for destructive tests of expensive single-shot operations systems where design changes are made only and immediately after the occurrence of failures. For qi, the probability of failure at the i-th stage, a specific parametric form is chosen which conforms to the concept of the Duane (1964, IEEE Trans. Aerospace Electron. Systems, 2, 563-566) learning curve in the continuous-time RG setting. A generalized linear model approach is pursued which efficiently handles a certain non-standard situation arising in the study of large-sample properties of the maximum likelihood estimators (MLEs) of the parameters. Alternative closed-form estimators of the model parameters are proposed and compared with the MLEs through asymptotic efficiency as well as small and moderate sample size simulation studies.     

Estimation of the distribution of random shifts deformation

Consider discrete values of functions shifted by unobserved translation effects, which are independent realizations of a random variable with unknown distribution μ modeling the variability in the response of each individual. Our aim is to construct a nonparametric estimator of the density of these random translation deformations using semiparametric preliminary estimates of the shifts. Based on the results of Dalalyan et al. [7], semiparametric estimators are obtained in our discrete framework and their performance studied. From these estimates we construct a nonparametric estimator of the target density. Both rates of convergence and an algorithm to construct the estimator are provided.      

On a proper way to select population failure distribution and a stochastic optimization method in parameter estimation

It is widely accepted that the Weibull distribution plays an important role in reliability applications. The reliability of a product or a system is the probability that the product or the system will still function for a specified time period when operating under some confined conditions. Parameter estimation for the three parameter Weibull distribution has been studied by many researchers in the past. Maximum likelihood has traditionally been the main method of estimation for Weibull parameters along with other recently proposed hybrids of optimization methods. In this paper, we use a stochastic optimization method called the Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) to carry out the estimation. The method is extremely flexible and inference for any quantity of interest is easily obtained.     

Types of likelihood maxima in mixture models and their implication on the performance of tests

In two-component mixtures of exponential distributions, different strategies for starting the likelihood maximization algorithm converge to different types of maxima. The power of an LR test of homogeneity against such a mixture strongly depends on the considered strategy, and global maximization need not result in the largest power. An explanation is given on basis of a systematic investigation of the likelihood function in a large number of simulations, using a variety of diagnostic tools. Thereby, we also gain a deeper insight into the properties of the samples that generate particular types of solutions of the likelihood equation. In particular, “spurious solutions” often occur; these are mainly responsible for the fact that global maximization may not result in a statistically meaningful estimator. Removing the smallest elements of a sample may drastically increase the power of previously inferior strategies. This research has been supported by a grant from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.     

在伽玛-指数模式下串联结构系统可靠度估计

设结构系统由ｎ个结构性部件串联组成．设部件ｋ的强度Ｘｋ服从指数分布厂Г（λ，１），λ＞０，ｋ＝１，２，…，ｎ；系统应力Ｙ服从Ｇａｍｍａ分布Г（μ，α），μ，α＞０．当α已知，λ，μ未知时，本文给出串联结构系统可靠度ＲＲ的ＭＶＵＥＲＲ和ＭＬＥＲＲ．证明了ＲＲ和ＲＲ都是ＲＲ的相合渐近正态估计．     

生长曲线模型中回归系数阵的极大似然估计的精确分布

对于生长曲线模型,基于理论发展和应用效果的考虑,本文引入了Gauss型误差．在此误差下,本文研究了模型中回归系数阵的极大似然估计的精确分布,求出了此分布的密度和特征函数．     

On the exact distribution and mean value function of a geometric process with exponential interarrival times

The geometric process is considered when the distribution of the first interarrival time is assumed to be exponential. An analytical expression for the one dimensional probability distribution of this process is obtained as a solution to a system of recursive differential equations. A power series expansion is derived for the geometric renewal function by using an integral equation and evaluated in a computational perspective. Further, an extension is provided for the power series expansion of the geometric renewal function in the case of the Weibull distribution.