Nash F.R. Reliability Assessments: Concepts, Models, and Case Studies

CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, 2016. — 802 p. — ISBN: 1498719171.This book provides engineers and scientists with a single source introduction to the concepts, models, and case studies for making credible reliability assessments. It satisfies the need for thorough discussions of several fundamental subjects.
Section I contains a comprehensive overview of assessing and assuring reliability that is followed by discussions of:
• Concept of randomness and its relationship to chaos
• Uses and limitations of the binomial and Poisson distributions
• Relationship of the chi-square method and Poisson curves
• Derivations and applications of the exponential, Weibull, and lognormal models
• Examination of the human mortality bathtub curve as a template for components
Section II introduces the case study modeling of failure data and is followed by analyses of:
• 5 sets of ideal Weibull, lognormal, and normal failure data
• 83 sets of actual (real) failure data
The intent of the modeling was to find the best descriptions of the failures using statistical life models, principally the Weibull, lognormal, and normal models, for characterizing the failure probability distributions of the times-, cycles-, and miles-to-failure during laboratory or field testing. The statistical model providing the preferred characterization was determined empirically by choosing the two-parameter model that gave the best straight-line fit in the failure probability plots using a combination of visual inspection and three statistical goodness-of-fit (GoF) tests.
This book offers practical insight in dealing with single item reliability and illustrates the use of reliability methods to solve industry problems.Concepts and Models
Overview of Reliability Assessments
Concept of Randomness
Probability and Sampling
Reliability Functions
Reliability Model: Exponential
Reliability Models: Weibull and Lognormal
Bathtub Curves for Humans and Components
Case Studies
Introduction to Modeling Failure Data
50 Ideal Weibull Devices
50 Ideal Lognormal Devices
50 Ideal Normal Devices
5 Ideal Weibull and Lognormal Devices
9 Unidentified Components
10 Insulated Cable Specimens
10 Steel Specimens
12 Electrical Insulation Specimens
13 Airplane Components
15 Pieces of Equipment
18 Unknown Items
19 Personnel Carriers
19 Insulating Fluid Specimens (34 kV)
20 Unspecified Items
20 Dielectric Specimens
20 Batteries
20 Epoxy Insulation Specimens
20 Electric Carts
20 Wires and Bonds
20 Electrical Insulation Samples
23 Deep-Groove Ball Bearings
25 Deep-Groove Ball Bearings: Reinterpretation
24 Steel Specimens
24 Transistors
25 Specimens of Yarn
25 Steel Rods
25 Undisclosed Specimens
26 Carbon Fibers in Resin (L = 75 mm)
26 Failures of a Radar System
28 Bundles of Carbon Fibers (L = 20 mm)
29 Bundles of Carbon Fibers (L = 300 mm)
30 Laser Welds
32 Centrifugal Pumps
34 Transistors
35 Grooved Steel Specimens
36 Electrical Appliances
36 Failures of a 500 MW Generator
40 Undesignated Parts
43 Vacuum Tubes
46 Repairs for a Transceiver
47 Thin Film Devices
50 Throttles
50 Unknown Items
50 Electronic Units
50 Bearings
50 Deep-Groove Ball Bearings
57 Aluminum Samples
57 Carbon Fibers (L = 1 mm)
59 Aluminum Conductors
60 Appliances
64 Carbon Fibers (L = 10 mm)
66 Carbon Fibers (L = 50 mm)
70 Carbon Fibers (L = 20 mm)
72 Alloy T7987 Samples
85 Adhesive Samples
96 Locomotive Controls
98 Brake Pads
100 Fuses
100 Kevlar Fibers
100 Unnamed Items
100 Unspecified Samples
101 Aluminum Coupons (21 kpsi)
101 Aluminum Coupons (31 kpsi)
102 Aluminum Coupons (26 kpsi)
104 GaAs Lasers
107 Radio Transmitters
109 Mining Accidents
110 Tires
137 Carbon Fibers
148 Deep-Groove Ball Bearings
153 Aircraft Windshields
417 Light Bulbs