Investigating the usefulness of the Beta pdf to describe Parameters in Reliability Analyses

The work presented in this paper considers the possibility and the advantages of using the Beta pdf as a means to describe the behaviour of various parameters in the analysis of the reliability of power systems. These include input parameters such as hazard functions or failure rates. It also includes output parameters such as those for various reliability performance indices, commonly encountered in electrical power system reliability analyses. The Kolmogoroff-Smirnoff test is used to determine the goodness-of-fit measures from recorded data compared with other pdfs, quoted in classical reliability literature. The paper shows that there are several reasons why the Beta pdf can be a useful means for describing probability functions in reliability analyses. It shows that certain characteristics of the Beta pdf make its application attractive