A bivariate optimal replacement policy for a cold standby repairable system with preventive repair

In this paper, the repair-replacement problem for a deteriorating cold standby repairable system is investigated. The system consists of two dissimilar components, in which component 1 is the main component with use priority and component 2 is a supplementary component. In order to extend the working time and economize the running cost of the system, preventive repair for component 1 is performed every time interval T, and the preventive repair is “as good as new”. As a supplementary component, component 2 is only used at the time that component 1 is under preventive repair or failure repair. Assumed that the failure repair of component 1 follows geometric process repair while the repair of component 2 is “as good as new”. A bivariate repair-replacement policy (T, N) is adopted for the system, where T is the interval length between preventive repairs, and N is the number of failures of component 1. The aim is to determine an optimal bivariate policy (T, N)^∗ such that the average cost rate of the system is minimized. The explicit expression of the average cost rate is derived and the corresponding optimal bivariate policy can be determined analytically or numerically. Finally, a Gamma distributed example is given to illustrate the theoretical results for the proposed model.     

An extended replacement policy for a deteriorating system with multi-failure modes

In this paper, the maintenance problem for a deteriorating system with k + 1 failure modes, including an unrepairable failure (catastrophic failure) mode and k repairable failure (non-catastrophic failure) modes, is studied. Assume that the system after repair is not “as good as new” and its deterioration is stochastic. Under these assumptions, an extended replacement policy N is considered: the system will be replaced whenever the number of repairable failures reaches N or the unrepairable failure occurs, whichever occurs first. Our purpose is to determine an optimal extended policy N^∗ such that the average cost rate (i.e. the long-run average cost per unit time) of the system is minimized. The explicit expression of the average cost rate is derived, and the corresponding optimal extended policy N^∗ can be determined analytically or numerically. Finally, a numerical example is given to illustrate some theoretical results of the repair model proposed in this paper.     

A bivariate mixed policy for a simple repairable system based on preventive repair and failure repair

In this paper, a simple repairable system (i.e. a one-component repairable system with one repairman) with preventive repair and failure repair is studied. Assume that the preventive repair is adopted before the system fails, when the system reliability drops to an undetermined constant R  , the work will be interrupted and the preventive repair is executed at once. And assume that the preventive repair of the system is “as good as new” while the failure repair of the system is not, and the deterioration of the system is stochastic. Under these assumptions, by using geometric process, we present a bivariate mixed policy (R,N)$(R\text{,}N)$, respectively based on a scale of the system reliability and the failure-number of the system. Our aim is to determine an optimal mixed policy (R,N)^∗$(R\text{,}N{)}^{\ast }$ such that the long-run average cost per unit time (i.e. the average cost rate) is minimized. The explicit expression of the average cost rate is derived, and the corresponding optimal mixed policy can be determined analytically or numerically. Finally, a numerical example is given where the working time of the system yields a Weibull distribution. Some comparisons with a certain existing policy are also discussed by numerical methods.     

An optimal replacement policy for a multistate degenerative simple system

In this paper, a degenerative simple system (i.e. a degenerative one-component system with one repairman) with k + 1 states, including k failure states and one working state, is studied. Assume that the system after repair is not “as good as new”, and the degeneration of the system is stochastic. Under these assumptions, we consider a new replacement policy T based on the system age. Our problem is to determine an optimal replacement policy T^∗ such that the average cost rate (i.e. the long-run average cost per unit time) of the system is minimized. The explicit expression of the average cost rate is derived, the corresponding optimal replacement policy can be determined, the explicit expression of the minimum of the average cost rate can be found and under some mild conditions the existence and uniqueness of the optimal policy T^∗ can be proved, too. Further, we can show that the repair model for the multistate system in this paper forms a general monotone process repair model which includes the geometric process repair model as a special case. We can also show that the repair model in the paper is equivalent to a geometric process repair model for a two-state degenerative simple system in the sense that they have the same average cost rate and the same optimal policy. Finally, a numerical example is given to illustrate the theoretical results of this model.     

Optimal replacement policy for a deteriorating system with increasing repair times

This paper considers an optimal maintenance policy for a practical and reparable deteriorating system subject to random shocks. Modeling the repair time by a geometric process and the failure mechanism by a generalized δ-shock process, we develop an explicit expression of the long-term average cost per time unit for the system under a threshold-type replacement policy. Based on this average cost function, we propose a finite search algorithm to locate the optimal replacement policy N^∗ to minimize the average cost rate. We further prove that the optimal policy N^∗ is unique and present some numerical examples. Many practical systems fit the model developed in this paper.     

A deteriorating cold standby repairable system with priority in use

In this paper, a cold standby repairable system consisting of two dissimilar components and one repairman is studied. In this system, it is assumed that the working time distributions and the repair time distributions of the two components are both exponential and component 1 is given priority in use. After repair, component 2 is “as good as new” while component 1 follows a geometric process repair. Under these assumptions, using the geometric process and a supplementary variable technique, some important reliability indices such as the system availability, reliability, mean time to first failure (MTTFF), rate of occurrence of failure (ROCOF) and the idle probability of the repairman are derived. A numerical example for the system reliability R(t) is given. And it is considered that a repair-replacement policy based on the working age T of component 1 under which the system is replaced when the working age of component 1 reaches T. Our problem is to determine an optimal policy T^∗ such that the long-run average cost per unit time of the system is minimized. The explicit expression for the long-run average cost per unit time of the system is evaluated, and the corresponding optimal replacement policy T^∗ can be found analytically or numerically. Another numerical example for replacement model is also given.     

Controlling arrivals for a queueing system with an unreliable server: Newton-Quasi method

This paper deals with the control policy of a removable and unreliable server for an M/M/1/K queueing system, where the removable server operates an F-policy. The so-called F-policy means that when the number of customers in the system reaches its capacity K (i.e. the system becomes full), the system will not accept any incoming customers until the queue length decreases to a certain threshold value F. At that time, the server initiates an exponential startup time with parameter γ and starts allowing customers entering the system. It is assumed that the server breaks down according to a Poisson process and the repair time has an exponential distribution. A matrix analytical method is applied to derive the steady-state probabilities through which various system performance measures can be obtained. A cost model is constructed to determine the optimal values, say (F^∗, μ^∗, γ^∗), that yield the minimum cost. Finally, we use the two methods, namely, the direct search method and the Newton-Quasi method to find the global minimum (F^∗, μ^∗, γ^∗). Numerical results are also provided under optimal operating conditions.     

Optimal repair–replacement policies for a system with two types of failures

In this paper, the optimal replacement problem is investigated for a system with two types of failures. One type of failure is repairable, which is conducted by a repairman when it occurs, and the other is unrepairable, which leads to a replacement of the system at once. The repair of the system is not “as good as new”. The consecutive operating times of the system after repair form a decreasing geometric process, while the repair times after failure are assumed to be independent and identically distributed. Replacement policy N is adopted, where N is the number of repairable failures. The system will be replaced at the Nth repairable failure or at the unrepairable failure, whichever occurs first. Two replacement models are considered, one is based on the limiting availability and the other based on the long-run average cost rate of the system. We give the explicit expressions for the limiting availability and the long-run average cost rate of the system under policy N, respectively. By maximizing the limiting availability A(N) and minimizing the long-run average cost rate C(N), we theoretically obtain the optimal replacement policies N^∗ in both cases. Finally, some numerical simulations are presented to verify the theoretical results.     

基于基准可靠度和预防维修次数上限的两参数预防维修策略

本文研究了一类修旧非新的两参数预防维修策略.在预防维修依赖于基准可靠度R的条件下,利用系统的相关可靠性指标建立了平均费用关于R和N(预防维修次数上限)的函数关系.进一步找到了该函数的最小值点,即得到了最优策略(R,N)*.同时通过实例说明了本文的维修策略优于文献[8].     

Lie algebras generated by bounded linear operators on Hilbert spaces

It is proved that the operator Lie algebra ε(T,T^∗) generated by a bounded linear operator T on Hilbert space H is finite-dimensional if and only if T=N+Q, N is a normal operator, [N,Q]=0, and dimA(Q,Q^∗)<+∞, where ε(T,T^∗) denotes the smallest Lie algebra containing T,T^∗, and A(Q,Q^∗) denotes the associative subalgebra of B(H) generated by Q,Q^∗. Moreover, we also give a sufficient and necessary condition for operators to generate finite-dimensional semi-simple Lie algebras. Finally, we prove that if ε(T,T^∗) is an ad-compact E-solvable Lie algebra, then T is a normal operator.     

Minimal ranks of some quaternion matrix expressions with applications

Suppose that p(X, Y) = A − BX − X^(∗)B^(∗) − CYC^(∗) and q(X, Y) = A − BX + X^(∗)B^(∗) − CYC^(∗) are quaternion matrix expressions, where A is persymmetric or perskew-symmetric. We in this paper derive the minimal rank formula of p(X, Y) with respect to pair of matrices X and Y = Y^(∗), and the minimal rank formula of q(X, Y) with respect to pair of matrices X and Y = −Y^(∗). As applications, we establish some necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of the general (persymmetric or perskew-symmetric) solutions to some well-known linear quaternion matrix equations. The expressions are also given for the corresponding general solutions of the matrix equations when the solvability conditions are satisfied. At the same time, some useful consequences are also developed.     

A finite difference solution to a two-dimensional parabolic inverse problem

In this paper, we consider the problem of finding u = u(x, y, t) and p = p(t) which satisfy u_t = u_xx + u_yy + p(t)u + ? in R × [0, T], u(x, y, 0) = f(x, y), (x, y) ∈ R = [0, 1] × [0, 1], u is known on the boundary of R and u(x^∗, y^∗, t) = E(t), 0 < t ? T, where E(t) is known and (x^∗, y^∗) is a given point of R. Through a function transformation, the nonlinear two-dimensional diffusion problem is transformed into a linear problem, and a backward Euler scheme is constructed. It is proved by the maximum principle that the scheme is uniquely solvable, unconditionally stable and convergent in L_∞ norm. The convergence orders of u and p are of O(τ + h²). The impact of initial data errors on the numerical solution is also considered. Numerical experiments are presented to illustrate the validity of the theoretical results.     

A δ-shock maintenance model for a deteriorating system

In this paper, a δ-shock maintenance model for a deteriorating system is studied. Assume that shocks arrive according to a renewal process, the interarrival time of shocks has a Weibull distribution or gamma distribution. Whenever an interarrival time of shocks is less than a threshold, the system fails. Assume further the system is deteriorating so that the successive threshold values are geometrically nondecreasing, and the consecutive repair times after failure form an increasing geometric process. A replacement policy N is adopted by which the system will be replaced by an identical new one at the time following the Nth failure. Then the long-run average cost per unit time is evaluated. Afterwards, an optimal policy N^* for minimizing the long-run average cost per unit time could be determined numerically.     

Optimal control of the N policy M/G/1 queueing system with server breakdowns and general startup times

This paper deals with an N policy M/G/1 queueing system with a single removable and unreliable server whose arrivals form a Poisson process. Service times, repair times, and startup times are assumed to be generally distributed. When the queue length reaches N(N ? 1), the server is immediately turned on but is temporarily unavailable to serve the waiting customers. The server needs a startup time before providing service until there are no customers in the system. We analyze various system performance measures and investigate some designated known expected cost function per unit time to determine the optimal threshold N at a minimum cost. Sensitivity analysis is also studied.     

Polaroid operators satisfying Weyl’s theorem

A Banach space operator T is polaroid and satisfies Weyl’s theorem if and only if T is Kato type at points λ ∈ iso σ(T) and has SVEP at points λ not in the Weyl spectrum of T. For such operators T, f(T) satisfies Weyl’s theorem for every non-constant function f analytic on a neighborhood of σ(T) if and only if f(T^∗) satisfies Weyl’s theorem.     

An optimal repair–replacement policy for a cold standby system with use priority

In this paper, the maintenance problem for a cold standby system consisting of two dissimilar components and one repairman is studied. Assume that both component 1 and component 2 after repair follow geometric process repair and component 1 is given priority in use when both components are workable. Under these assumptions, using geometric process repair model, we consider a replacement policy N under which the system is replaced when the number of failures of component 1 reaches N. Our purpose is to determine an optimal replacement policy N1 such that the average cost rate (i.e. the long-run average cost per unit time) of the system is minimized. The explicit expression for the average cost rate of the system is derived and the corresponding optimal replacement policy N1 can be determined analytically or numerically. Finally, a numerical example is given to illustrate some theoretical results and the model applicability.     

Conjugate operators that preserve the nonconvergence of bounded martingales

We show that the conjugate T^∗ of an operator , with X and Y Banach spaces, satisfies the following dichotomy: either T^∗ preserves the nonconvergence of bounded martingales in Y^∗, or there exists a compact operator such that the kernel N(T^∗+K^∗) fails the Radon-Nikodým property.     

On p-quasi-hyponormal operators

A Hilbert space operator A ∈ B(H) is said to be p-quasi-hyponormal for some 0 < p ? 1, A ∈ p − QH, if A^∗(∣A∣^2p − ∣A^∗∣^2p)A ? 0. If H is infinite dimensional, then operators A ∈ p − QH are not supercyclic. Restricting ourselves to those A ∈ p − QH for which A⁻¹(0) ⊆ A^∗-1(0), A ∈ p_∗ − QH, a necessary and sufficient condition for the adjoint of a pure p_∗ − QH operator to be supercyclic is proved. Operators in p_∗ − QH satisfy Bishop’s property (β). Each A ∈ p_∗ − QH has the finite ascent property and the quasi-nilpotent part H₀(A − λI) of A equals (A − λI)^-1(0) for all complex numbers λ; hence f(A) satisfies Weyl’s theorem, and f(A^∗) satisfies a-Weyl’s theorem, for all non-constant functions f which are analytic on a neighborhood of σ(A). It is proved that a Putnam-Fuglede type commutativity theorem holds for operators in p_∗ − QH.     

The performance measures and randomized optimization for an unreliable server M/G/1 vacation system

This paper examines an M^[x]/G/1 queueing system with a randomized vacation policy and at most J vacations. Whenever the system is empty, the server immediately takes a vacation. If there is at least one customer found waiting in the queue upon returning from a vacation, the server will be immediately activated for service. Otherwise, if no customers are waiting for service at the end of a vacation, the server either remains idle with probability p or leaves for another vacation with probability 1 − p. This pattern continues until the number of vacations taken reaches J. If the system is empty by the end of the Jth vacation, the server becomes idle in the system. Whenever one or more customers arrive at server idle state, the server immediately starts providing service for the arrivals. Assume that the server may meet an unpredictable breakdown according to a Poisson process and the repair time has a general distribution. For such a system, we derive the distributions of important system characteristics, such as system size distribution at a random epoch and at a departure epoch, system size distribution at busy period initiation epoch, the distributions of idle period, busy period, etc. Finally, a cost model is developed to determine the joint suitable parameters (p^∗, J^∗) at a minimum cost, and some numerical examples are presented for illustrative purpose.