Weibull Analytics of Observed and Suspended Failure Data: A tutorial on a Weighted Linear Regression Approach

This paper describes Weibull data analytics in support of grid resilience as well as interpreting test and R&D results. The target was to develop a widely accessible spreadsheet IDA application that can be used on relatively light computing devices such as mobile phones and tablets. This became possible by the use of adjusted ranking with suspended data and development of high accuracy approximations of plotting positions and linear regression weights. A coherent methodology was developed for plotting, parameter estimation and various types of inferences in addition to data analytics. These are: quantifying the similarity of failure processes by their distributions, optimization of period based maintenance cycles, evaluation of expected time and confidence limits for a next failure. These are all integrated into IDA which is made available as freeware for common benefit.