Time-Dependent Stress-Strength Models for Non-Electrical and Electrical Systems,

Abstract : Structural modeling of systems and failure rate modeling of components has proved quite successful in the reliability analysis of electrical systems. In the case of mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, etc. systems such techniques are hard to apply because of the distributed nature of the devices. In such cases stress-strength models are often used. These models are good for single stress situations, but must be modified to describe the commonly occurring situation of repeated stresses. A general reliability modeling technique is developed for time and/or cyclic dependence of the stress and strength distributions used to characterize failure modes in the stress-strength interference method. These distributions may change due to aging and cumulative damage, or due to the information gained by a history of non-failure. (Author Modified Abstract)