Optimal Design for Experiments with Potentially Failing Trials

We discuss the problem of optimal allocation of the design points of an experiment for the case where the trials may fail with non-zero probability. Numerical results for D-optimal designs are given for estimating the coefficients of a polynomial regression. For small sample sizes these designs may deviate substantially from the corresponding designs in the case of certain response. They can be less efficient, but are less affected by failing trials. (author's abstract)