A note on “Parameter estimation for bivariate Weibull distribution using generalized moment method for reliability evaluation”

Yuan [Quality and Reliability Engineering International, 2018, doi: 10.1002/qre.2276] proposed a generalized moment method for parameter estimation of a particular bivariate Weibull distribution and derived corresponding confidence intervals. The expressions given for the confidence intervals do not appear correct. In this note, we correct the confidence intervals and recompute them for two real data sets.     

三参数威布尔分布参数估计及在可靠性分析中的应用

威布尔分布是可靠性中应用最广泛的分布之一。三参数威布尔分布尤其适用于在开始使用时有一时间段内不发生故障的情况。由于该分布的位置参数不等于0,在参数估计时不能采用简单的参数估计方法实现,限制了该分布形式在可靠性分析中的应用。根据三参数威布尔分布的特点提出了一种综合图解法和遗传算法的参数估计方法,应用该方法可以获得更精确的参数估计值。随后应用于某系列数控车床计算机数控系统的故障分析中,验证了本文提出的参数估计方法的可行性。     

Monitoring reliability for a three-parameter Weibull distribution

Control charts are widely used to monitor production processes in the manufacturing industry and are also useful for monitoring reliability. A method to monitor reliability has recently been proposed when the distributions of inter-failure times are exponential and Weibull with known parameters. This method has also been extended to monitor the cumulative time elapsed between a fixed number of failures for the exponential distribution. In this paper, we consider a three-parameter Weibull distribution to model inter-failure times, use a robust estimation technique to estimate the unknown parameters, and extend the proposed method to monitor the cumulative time elapsed between r failures using the three-parameter Weibull distribution. Since the distribution of the sum of independent Weibull random variates is not known (except in specific cases with known parameters), we give two useful moment approximations to be able to apply their scheme. We show how effective the approximations are and the usefulness of the method in detecting a possible instability during production.     

Robust Regression using Probability Plots for Estimating the Weibull Shape Parameter

The Weibull shape parameter is important in reliability estimation as it characterizes the ageing property of the system. Hence, this parameter has to be estimated accurately. This paper presents a study of the efficiency of using robust regression methods over the ordinary least‐squares regression method based on a Weibull probability plot. The emphasis is on the estimation of the shape parameter of the two‐parameter Weibull distribution. Both the case of small data sets with outliers and the case of data sets with multiple‐censoring are considered. Maximum‐likelihood estimation is also compared with linear regression methods. Simulation results show that robust regression is an effective method in reducing bias and it performs well in most cases. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Analysis of field data under two-dimensional warranty

This paper proposes a method of estimating lifetime distribution for products under two-dimensional warranty in which age and usage are used simultaneously to determine the eligibility of a warranty claim. To analyze two-dimensional warranty data, univariate and bivariate approaches which use a reliability model including both age and usage can be considered. Most of previous works are centered on the univariate approach which assumes a functional relationship between age and usage. We consider a bivariate approach which assumes that the two variables are statistically correlated in a bivariate distribution. Methods of obtaining maximum likelihood estimators are outlined, and specific formulas are obtained for the cases where marginal distributions are Weibull. An illustrative example is given and numerical studies are performed to compare the two approaches.     

Bayesian estimation of mixed Weibull distributions

Estimation of mixed Weibull distribution by maximum likelihood estimation and other methods is frequently difficult due to unstable estimates arising from limited data. Bayesian techniques can stabilize these estimates through the priors, but there is no closed-form conjugate family for the Weibull distribution. This paper reduces the number of numeric integrations required for using Bayesian estimation on mixed Weibull situations from five to two, thus making it a more feasible approach to the typical user. It also examines the robustness of the Bayesian estimates under a variety of different prior distributions. It is found that Bayesian estimation can improve accuracy over the MLE for situations with low mixture ratios so long as the prior on the weak subpopulation's characteristic life has an expected value less than or equal to the true characteristic life.     

An exploratory study of a neural network approach for reliability data analysis

The results of this paper show that neural networks could be a very promising tool for reliability data analysis. Identifying the underlying distribution of a set of failure data and estimating its distribution parameters are necessary in reliability engineering studies. In general, either a chi-square or a non-parametric goodness-of-fit test is used in the distribution identification process which includes the pattern interpretation of the failure data histograms. However, those procedures can guarantee neither an accurate distribution identification nor a robust parameter estimation when small data samples are available. Basically, the graphical approach of distribution fitting is a pattern recognition problem and parameter estimation is a classification problem where neural networks have been proved to be a suitable tool. This paper presents an exploratory study of a neural network approach, validated by simulated experiments, for analysing small-sample reliability data. A counter-propagation network is used in classifying normal, uniform, exponential and Weibull distributions. A back-propagation network is used in the parameter estimation of a two-parameter Weibull distribution.     

一类基于改进Weibull分布模型的 电力电缆寿命评估方法

对电缆的剩余寿命进行评估是电缆寿命管理的关键环节,以往电缆寿命评估的方法中有Arrhenius方法和Weibull分布模型。对这两种方法分别进行分析,特别是确定Arrhenius模型中激活能的计算,以及应用Weibull分布模型对电缆寿命进行评估。最后以实际电缆的状态监测数据,对简化的Arrhenius模型进行仿真,说明所提出的方法是有效的。     

Life Tests Under Dependent Competing Causes of Failure

In a life testing situation the failure of an individual, either a living organism or an inanimate object, may be classified into one of k(< 1) mutually exclusive classes, usually causes of failure. One often has dependent causes of failure in actual physical situations, i.e., the theoretical lifetime of an individual failing from one cause may be correlated with the theoretical lifetime of the same individual failing from a different cause. This paper i) discusses some properties of a bivariate Weibull distribution and ii) is concerned with estimating, by the method of maximum likelihood, the unknown parameters of life distributions belonging to two particular parametric families, viz., bivariate normal and bivariate Weibull, when the causes of failure are dependent. An example involving the failure of small electrical appliances is analyzed and compared with an analysis which assumes the causes of failure to be independent.     

A Method for Discriminating Between Failure Density Functions Used In Reliability Predictions

Unless sufficient evidence to the contrary exists, the exponential distribution is often assumed as a model for the failure density function in reliability predictions.

The generalized gamma distribution, with known location parameter, is a three parameter distribution which encompasses the exponential, Weibull, gamma and many others. In this paper, (i) maximum likelihood estimation for the three parameters is indicated, (ii) it is noted that these estimators are asymptotically multivariate normally distributed, and (iii) using the distribution of the estimators, probability regions for the estimators of the parameters of the generalized gamma distribution are established for large sample situations.

In situations where the generalized gamma can be assumed as the correct density function, the exponential and the Weibull are special cases. A method is presented using experimental or life data for rejecting (with a known probability of false rejection) the Weibull and (or) the exponential functions when they do not appear to describe the failure density function of a unit.     

Robust Estimation for Weibull Distribution in Partially Accelerated Life Tests with Early Failures

Maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) is a frequently used method for estimating distribution parameters in constant stress partially accelerated life tests (CS‐PALTs). However, using the MLE to estimate the parameters for a Weibull distribution may be problematic in CS‐PALTs. First, the equation for the shape parameter estimator derived from the log‐likelihood function is difficult to solve for the occurrence of nonlinear equations. Second, the sample size is typically not large in life tests. The MLE, a typical large‐sample inference method, may be unsuitable. Test items unsuitable for stress conditions may become early failures, which have extremely short lifetimes. The early failures may cause parameter estimate bias. For addressing early failures in the Weibull distribution in CS‐PALTs, we propose an M‐estimation method based on a Weibull Probability Plot (WPP) framework, which leads a closed‐form expression for the shape parameter estimator. We conducted a simulation study to compare the M‐estimation method with the MLE method. The results show that, with early‐failure samples, the M‐estimation method performs better than the MLE does. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于MCMC稳态模拟的Weibull共享异质性模型及其可靠性应用

针对传统假设中个体寿命独立同分布的不足，构建了贝叶斯Weibull共享异质性模型，提出了对寿命服从Weibull分布的产品，运用基于Gibbs抽样的马尔可夫链蒙特卡罗(Markov chain Monte Carlo, MCMC)方法动态模拟出参数后验分布的马尔可夫链，在异质性因子的先验分布为Gamma分布时，给出随机截尾条件下，参数在Weibull共享异质性模型中的贝叶斯估计，提高了计算的精度。借助数据仿真说明了利用WinBUGS (Bayesian inference using Gibbs samp     

Different Estimation Methods for Constant Stress Accelerated Life Test under the Family of the Exponentiated Distributions

The Accelerated Life Testing (ALT) has been used for a long time in several fields to obtain information on the reliability of product components and materials under operating conditions in a much shorter time. One of the main purposes of applying ALT is to estimate the failure time functions and reliability performance under normal conditions. This paper concentrates on the estimation procedures under ALT and how to select the best estimation method that gives accurate estimates for the reliability function. For this purpose, different estimation methods are used, such as maximum likelihood, least squares (LS), weighted LS, and probability weighted moment. Moreover, the reliability function under usual conditions is predicted. The estimation procedures are applied under the family of the exponentiated distributions in general, and for the exponentiated inverted Weibull (EIW) as a special case. Numerical analysis including simulated data and a real life data set is conducted to compare the performances between these four methods. It is found that the ML method gives the best results among other estimation methods. Finally, a comparison between the EIW and the Inverted Weibull (IW) distributions based on a real life data set is made using a likelihood ratio test. It is observed that the EIW distribution can provide better fitting than the IW in case of ALT. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

复合材料强度的统计分析 Ⅱ.参数估计

为了估计先前提出的修正的韦布尔分布函数的三个未知参数, 本文改改进了现有的作图估计方法, 还提出了一个联合估计方法, 经检验这些方法是适用的。      

基于GM-噪声SVR方法的矿山设备可靠性参数估计

为了有效估计小子样条件下矿山设备的三参数威布尔分布可靠性模型参数,提出基于GM-噪声SVR的参数估计方法。该方法以灰色估计法(GM)为基础估计模型的位置参数,采用基于训练样本数量和噪声参数寻优的ε - 带支持向量回归机(ε-SVR)估计尺度参数和形状参数,并通过拟合的三参数威布尔分布函数分析预测和解决设备的可靠性问题。算例结果表明,GM-噪声SVR方法可以很好地用于矿山设备可靠性模型参数估计,估计某带式输送机三参数威布尔分布可靠性模型的位置参数、尺度参数和形状参数依次为3.1525、188.3763、1.0476,平均无故障时间为188 h,标准均方根误差NRMSE为0.0519。这表明该方法的可行性和有效性。     

Probabilistic assessment of weld fatigue damage for a nonlinear combination of correlated stress components

Estimation of fatigue damage for welds which are subjected to multiple stress components is addressed. Each component is represented by a separate stress cycle distribution of the Weibull type, and the effect of correlation between the different components is addressed. Three different types of bivariate Weibull distributions are considered. These are of the following categories: (i) The Nataf model (ii) The NKR model and (iii) The Plackett model. Comparison is made between the fatigue damage obtained by application of the different models for different levels of correlation and with different SN-curve exponents. Extension from the bivariate case to higher dimensions is also briefly discussed.     

Reliability analysis of wind turbine subassemblies based on the 3-P Weibull model via an ergodic artificial bee colony algorithm

The Weibull distribution is the most widely used model for the reliability evaluation of wind turbine subassemblies. Considering the important role of the location parameter in the three-parameter (3-P) Weibull model and its rare application in wind turbines, this study conducted a reliability analysis of wind turbine subassemblies based on field data that obeyed the 3-P Weibull distribution model via maximum likelihood estimation (MLE). An improved ergodic artificial bee colony algorithm (ErgoABC) was proposed by introducing the chaos search theory, global best solution, and Lévy flights strategy into the classical artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm to determine the maximum likelihood estimates of the Weibull distribution parameters. This was validated against simulation calculations and proved to be efficient for high-dimensional function optimization and parameter estimation of the 3-P Weibull distribution. Finally, reliability analyses of the wind turbine subassemblies based on different types of field failure data were conducted using ErgoABC. The results show that the 3-P Weibull model can reasonably evaluate the lifetime distribution of critical wind turbine subassemblies, such as generator slip rings and main shafts, on which the location parameter has a significant effect.     

Maximum likelihood Estimation of Parameters in the Inverse Gaussian Distribution,With Unknown Origin

Maximum likelihood estimation is applied to the three-parameter Inverse Gaussian distribution, which includes an unknown shifted origin parameter. It is well known that for similar distributions in which the origin is unknown, such as the lognormal, gamma, and Weibull distributions, maximum likelihood estimation can break down. In these latter cases, the likelihood function is unbounded and this leads to inconsistent estimators or estimators not asymptotically normal. It is shown that in the case of the Inverse Gaussian distribution this difticulty does not arise. The likelihood remains bounded and maximum likelihood estimation yields a consistent estimator with the usual asymptotic normality properties. A simple iterative method is suggested for the estimation procedure. Numerical examples are given in which the estimates in the Inverse Gaussian model are compared with those of the lognormal and Weibull distributions.     

A new method for selection of population distribution and parameter estimation

An optimization method for parameter estimation is presented with the Kolmogorov-Smirnov distance used as the objective. A step-by-step implementation procedure is given. The method is demonstrated by estimating the parameters for three-parameter Weibull distributions from three different samples (with different sample sizes). A comparison of the proposed method and the usual methods such as the least-squares method, the matching moments method and the maximum likelihood method shows that more reasonable estimates of the parameters are given by the proposed optimization method. Then, the proposed method is successfully extended to estimate the parameters for the sum of two three-parameter Weibull distributions. Based on these findings, a new procedure for selection of population distribution and parameter estimation is presented.     

On the upper truncated Weibull distribution and its reliability implications

The characteristics and application of the truncated Weibull distribution are studied in this paper. This distribution is applicable to the situation where the test data are bounded in an interval because of test conditions, cost and other restrictions. An important property of the truncated Weibull distribution is that it can have bathtub-shaped failure rate function. In this paper, the parametric analysis and parameter estimation methods of the distribution are investigated. Both the graphical approach and the maximum likelihood estimation are considered. The applicability of this distribution to modeling lifetime data is illustrated by an example and the results of comparisons to other competitive models in modeling the given data are also presented. Moreover, the possible application of the distribution to modeling component or system failure is discussed.