Accelerated simulation of failure probability of a system consisting of elements with considerably differing reliability

The failure probability of a system in a given time interval is investigated. Failure and repair distribution functions are assumed to be of a general form. A new accelerated simulation method is proposed that makes it possible to construct estimates with bounded relative root-mean-square errors for systems consisting of components with frequency-different reliability. A numerical example is given. Translated from Kibernetika i Sistemnyi Analiz, No. 6, pp. 48–58, November–December, 1999.