Birnbaum-Saunders Distribution

Definition

The Birnbaum-Saunders distribution has the density function

with scale parameter β > 0 and shape parameter γ > 0, for x > 0.

If x has a Birnbaum-Saunders distribution with parameters β and γ, then

has a standard normal distribution.

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Background

The Birnbaum-Saunders distribution was originally proposed as a lifetime model for materials subject to cyclic patterns of stress and strain, where the ultimate failure of the material comes from the growth of a prominent flaw. In materials science, Miner's Rule suggests that the damage occurring after n cycles, at a stress level with an expected lifetime of N cycles, is proportional to n / N. Whenever Miner's Rule applies, the Birnbaum-Saunders model is a reasonable choice for a lifetime distribution model.

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Parameters

See mle, dfittool.

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See Also

Continuous Distributions (Data)

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Binomial Distribution

Chi-Square Distribution