Title :
Improved Estimation of Weibull Parameters Considering Unreliability Uncertainties
Author :
Fernández, Antonio ; Vázquez, Manuel
Author_Institution :
EUIT Telecomun., Univ. Politec. de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
fDate :
3/1/2012 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
We propose a linear regression method for estimating Weibull parameters from life tests. The method uses stochastic models of the unreliability at each failure instant. As a result, a heteroscedastic regression problem arises that is solved by weighted least squares minimization. The main feature of our method is an innovative s-normalization of the failure data models, to obtain analytic expressions of centers and weights for the regression. The method has been Monte Carlo contrasted with Benard´s approximation, and Maximum Likelihood Estimation; and it has the highest global scores for its robustness, and performance.
Keywords :
Monte Carlo methods; Weibull distribution; failure analysis; life testing; maximum likelihood estimation; regression analysis; reliability theory; stochastic processes; Benards approximation; Monte Carlo method; Weibull parameter estimation; failure data model; heteroscedastic regression problem; life test; linear regression method; maximum likelihood estimation; s-normalization; stochastic model; unreliability uncertainties; weighted least squares minimization; Approximation methods; Data models; Maximum likelihood estimation; Reliability; Software; Uncertainty; Heteroscedastic regression; Weibull distributions; life tests; weighted least squares;
Journal_Title :
Reliability, IEEE Transactions on
DOI :
10.1109/TR.2011.2168652