Generate Random Numbers Technique
Numbers that are generated to follow a standard uniform number (range 0 to 1) are typically called pseudo-random numbers. Numbers that follow a specific distribution, which are obtained by converting generated uniform random numbers, are typically called random variants. Random variants are used to simulate system behavior by mimicking the realizations of the random variables that affect the system behavior, such as component failures and repairs.
Pseudo-random numbers and random variants are both referred to as random numbers to avoid unnecessary confusion. The following can be generated:
• Uniform random numbers
• Random numbers for a specified distribution (unconditional distribution)
• Random numbers for conditional distributions. This is the distribution for residual life, which is left-truncated based on component age. For example, consider a component that fails after 1,000 hours in operation. If the repair effectiveness is 0.50, the adjusted age of the component after corrective action is 500 hours. If the repair effectiveness is 0.25, the adjusted age of the component after corrective action is 250 hours.