Reliability analysis of descent systems of planetary vehicles using bivariate exponential distribution

This paper evaluates the accuracy of two Monte-Carlo simulation methods that draw the minimum of two correlated exponentials. This evaluation is done by comparing the simulation results against the results from two well-known analytical bivariate exponential distribution (BED) sources. Then, the future systems are simulated to obtain the probability density functions (PDF) of the system lives from which the reliability expressions are derived. Results show that simulation is a viable tool in analyzing the reliability of systems composed of correlated components. Positive correlation seems to increase both the mean and the standard deviation of the lives of both systems.