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Order statistics of uncertain random variables with application to k-out-of-n system

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Abstract

Uncertain random variables are tools to deal with a mixture of uncertainty and randomness. A new concept of order statistics associated with uncertain random variables is proposed, and is applied to analyze k-out-of-n systems with uncertain random lifetimes. The chance distributions of order statistics of uncertain random variables are derived from the operational law of uncertain random variables. Finally, the reliability of k-out-of-n systems with uncertain random lifetimes is discussed.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China Grant Nos. 61273044 and 61573210.

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Correspondence to Rong Gao.

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Gao, R., Sun, Y. & Ralescu, D.A. Order statistics of uncertain random variables with application to k-out-of-n system. Fuzzy Optim Decis Making 16, 159–181 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10700-016-9245-9

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