Stochastic properties and parameter estimation for a general load-sharing system

We study here a general load-sharing parallel system in which the lifetimes of the components of the system are arbitrary continuous random variables. The system functions if at least one component in the system functions and the surviving unit shares the whole load. Some sufficient conditions are obtained for the usual stochastic order between two different load-sharing systems. We then consider the optimal allocation problem of one load standby in a series system with two independent components. Finally, the maximum likelihood estimation of the parameters for some specific systems is discussed.