Consecutive k-out-of-n lines with a change point

Reliability analysis of consecutive k-out-of-n systems and their generalizations has attracted a great deal of attention in the literature. Such systems have been used to model telecommunication networks, oil pipeline systems, vacuum systems in accelerators, spacecraft relay stations, etc. In this paper, nonrecursive closed form equations are presented for the reliability functions and mean time to failure values of consecutive k-out-of-n systems consisting of two types of nonidentical components. The results are illustrated for reliability evaluation of oil pipeline system.