21 Optimal allocation of multistate components

Publisher Summary This chapter presents some results in the optimal allocation of multistate components to k series systems so that some performance characteristic like expected number of systems functioning at level α or higher, the probability that at least one of the systems functions at level α or higher, is maximized. The chapter reviews a general optimal allocation result for multistate systems, and describes some detail reliability models in which these results can be used. The basic mathematical tools used are majorization and Schur functions.