Evaluation of Accuracy of Median Ranks and Mean Ranks Plotting for Reliability Estimation Using the Weibull Distribution

Estimates of the Weibull distribution parameters were made employing the mean ranks estimator; the estimates were repeated using the median ranks estimator. These estimates were compared to known values of the Weibull distribution parameters. This made it possible to compare the results obtained using either estimator (mean ranks or median ranks) and to determine the relative merits of using either estimator. The study made use of a digital computer and employed Monte-Carlo techniques to simulate Weibull distributed failure times. These failure times may represent tank-automotive component failures.