OPTIMAL UTILIZATION OF SERVICE FACILITY FOR A k-OUT-OF-n SYSTEM WITH REPAIR BY EXTENDING SERVICE TO EXTERNAL CUSTOMERS IN A RETRIAL QUEUE

In this paper, we study a k-out-of-n system with single server who provides service to external customers also. The system consists of two parts:(i) a main queue consisting of customers (failed components of the k-out-of-n system) and (ii) a pool (of finite capacity M) of external customers together with an orbit for external customers who find the pool full. An external customer who finds the pool full on arrival, joins the orbit with probability ${\gamma}$ and with probability $1-{\gamma}$ leaves the system forever. An orbital customer, who finds the pool full, at an epoch of repeated attempt, returns to orbit with probability ${\delta}\;(<\;1)$ and with probability $1-{\delta}$ leaves the system forever. We compute the steady state system size probability. Several performance measures are computed, numerical illustrations are provided.