I first heard about this with plane automatic landing systems, where the planes would always touch down at the same spot on the tarmac. Randomization needed to be added to keep the tarmac from cracking for longer.
yes, I spent some time on google trying to find the article but I guess my googlefoo is failing me today. However I do remember it was the autoland system developed by McDonnell Douglas on the MD-11. They had to add some small randomization to keep if from always touching down on the same part of the pavement all the time.