Bayesian nonparametric models for combining heterogeneous reliability data
Richard L. Warr, David H Collins · Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Part O Journal of Risk and Reliability · 2013
Modern complex engineering systems often present the analyst with a mix of data types that can be used for reliability prediction: system test results, lifetime data from unit tests of components, and subsystem data, all of which may have predictive value for the system lifetime. We present a hierarchical nonparametric framework, using Dirichlet processes, in which time-to-event distributions may be estimated from sample data or derived based on physical failure mechanisms. By applying a Bayesian methodology, the framework can incorporate prior information, including expert opinion.