Improving the Reliability in the Next Generation of US Army Platforms through Physics of Failure Analysis |
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Authors: | Geetha V Chary Ed Habtour Gary S Drake |
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Affiliation: | (1) Army Materiel Systems Analysis Activity, 392 Hopkins Rd, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21005-5071, USA |
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Abstract: | Published studies and audits have documented that a significant number of U.S. Army systems are failing to demonstrate established
reliability requirements. In order to address this issue, the Army developed a new reliability policy in December 2007 which
encourages use of cost-effective reliability best practices. The intent of this policy is to improve reliability of Army systems
and material, which in turn will have a significant positive impact on mission effectiveness, logistics effectiveness and
life-cycle costs. Under this policy, the Army strongly encourages the use of Physics of Failure (PoF) analysis on mechanical
and electronics systems. At the US Army Materiel Systems Analysis Activity, PoF analyses are conducted to support contractors,
program managers and engineers on systems in all stages of acquisition from design, to test and evaluation (T&E) and fielded
systems. This article discusses using the PoF approach to improve reliability of military products. PoF is a science-based
approach to reliability that uses modeling and simulation to eliminate failures early in the design process by addressing
root-cause failure mechanisms in a computer-aided engineering environment. The PoF approach involves modeling the root causes
of failure such as fatigue, fracture, wear, and corrosion. Computer-aided design tools have been developed to address various
loads, stresses, failure mechanisms, and failure sites. This paper focuses on understanding the cause and effect of physical
processes and mechanisms that cause degradation and failure of materials and components. A reliability assessment case study
of circuit cards consisting of dense circuitry is discussed. System level dynamics models, component finite element models
and fatigue-life models were used to reveal the underlying physics of the hardware in its mission environment. Outputs of
these analyses included forces acting on the system, displacements of components, accelerations, stress levels, weak points
in the design and probable component life. This information may be used during the design process to make design changes early
in the acquisition process when changes are easier to make and are much more cost effective. Design decisions and corrective
actions made early in the acquisition phase leads to improved efficiency and effectiveness of the T&E process. The intent
is to make fixes prior to T&E which will reduce test time and cost, allow more information to be obtained from test and improve
test focus. PoF analyses may be conducted for failures occurring during test to better understand the underlying physics of
the problem and identify the root cause of failures which may lead to better fixes for problems discovered, reduced test-fix-test
iterations and reduced decision risk. The same analyses and benefits mentioned above may be applied to systems which are exhibiting
failures in the field. |
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