Mechanical Engineering Design-for-Reliability

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
William R. Wessels
Keyword(s):  
Density Function ◽  
Failure Modes ◽  
Mechanical Design ◽  
Mass Density ◽  
Failure Mechanisms ◽  
Strength Properties ◽  
Material Strength ◽  
Design For Reliability ◽  
Mechanical Part ◽  
Definition Of

This paper presents a design-for-reliability approach for mechanical design. Reliability analysis in part design, indeed the very definition of reliability, has been focused towards the electronic and digital disciplines since the emergence of reliability engineering in the late 1940’s. That focus dictates that parts fail in time; that all parts have a constant failure rate, and that part failure is modeled by the exponential mass density function. This paper presents current research that proposes that reliability in mechanical design is not characterized by ‘best practices’ reliability analyses. One premise investigated is that time does not cause failure in mechanical design; only failure mechanisms do. Mechanical parts experience wear-out and fatigue, unlike electronic and digital parts. Mechanical design analysis for part design investigates material strength properties required to survive failure mechanisms induced by part operation and by part exposure to external failure mechanisms. Such failure mechanisms include physical loads, thermal loads, and reactivity/corrosion. Each failure mechanism acting on a mechanical part induces one or more part failure modes, and each part failure mode has one or more failure effects on the part and the upper design configurations in which the part is integrated. The second premise investigated is that mechanical part failure is modeled by the Weibull mass density function in terms of stress, not time. A reliability math model for tensile strength in composite materials is presented to illustrate the two premises.

Methodology for Analysis of Schottky Diode Failures

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bhanu P. Sood ◽  
Michael Pecht ◽  
John Miker ◽  
Tom Wanek
Keyword(s):  
Failure Mode ◽  
Schottky Diode ◽  
Failure Modes ◽  
Schottky Diodes ◽  
Failure Mechanisms ◽  
Forward Voltage ◽  
Fast Switching ◽  
Voltage Drops ◽  
The Common

Abstract Schottky diodes are semiconductor switching devices with low forward voltage drops and very fast switching speeds. This paper provides an overview of the common failure modes in Schottky diodes and corresponding failure mechanisms associated with each failure mode. Results of material level evaluation on diodes and packages as well as manufacturing and assembly processes are analyzed to identify a set of possible failure sites with associated failure modes, mechanisms, and causes. A case study is then presented to illustrate the application of a systematic FMMEA methodology to the analysis of a specific failure in a Schottky diode package.

Social Failure Modes in Technology and the Ethics of AI

2020 ◽  
pp. 441-461
Author(s):  
Jason Millar
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Design ◽  
Failure Modes ◽  
Design Practice ◽  
Detailed Understanding ◽  
Ethical Implications ◽  
The Social ◽  
Underlying Causes ◽  
Physical Defects ◽  
Definition Of

This chapter argues that, just as technological artefacts can break as a result of mechanical, electrical, or other physical defects not fully accounted for in their design, they can also break as a result of social defects not fully accounted for in their design. These failures resulting from social defects can be called social failures. The chapter then proposes a definition of social failure as well as a taxonomy of social failure modes—the underlying causes that lead to social failures. An explicit and detailed understanding of social failure modes, if properly applied in engineering design practice, could result in a fuller evaluation of the social and ethical implications of technology, either during the upstream design and engineering phases of a product, or after its release. Ideally, studying social failure modes will improve people’s ability to anticipate and reduce the rate or severity of undesirable social failures prior to releasing technology into the wild.

scholarly journals Are ultra-diffuse galaxies Milky Way-sized?

2020 ◽  
Vol 633 ◽  
pp. L3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nushkia Chamba ◽  
Ignacio Trujillo ◽  
Johan H. Knapen
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Milky Way ◽  
Size Range ◽  
Mass Density ◽  
Effective Radius ◽  
Density Profiles ◽  
Gas Density ◽  
Undesirable Consequence ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Density Threshold

Now almost 70 years since its introduction, the effective or half-light radius has become a very popular choice for characterising galaxy size. However, the effective radius measures the concentration of light within galaxies and thus does not capture our intuitive definition of size which is related to the edge or boundary of objects. For this reason, we aim to demonstrate the undesirable consequence of using the effective radius to draw conclusions about the nature of faint ultra-diffuse galaxies (UDGs) when compared to dwarfs and Milky Way-like galaxies. Instead of the effective radius, we use a measure of galaxy size based on the location of the gas density threshold required for star formation. Compared to the effective radius, this physically motivated definition places the sizes much closer to the boundary of a galaxy. Therefore, considering the sizes and stellar mass density profiles of UDGs and regular dwarfs, we find that the UDGs have sizes that are within the size range of dwarfs. We also show that currently known UDGs do not have sizes comparable to Milky Way-like objects. We find that, on average, UDGs are ten times smaller in extension than Milky Way-like galaxies. These results show that the use of size estimators sensitive to the concentration of light can lead to misleading results.

Analysis of the Relationship Between Rail Seat Load Distribution and Rail Seat Deterioration in Concrete Crossties

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Greve ◽  
Marcus S. Dersch ◽  
J. Riley Edwards ◽  
Christopher P. L. Barkan ◽  
Jose Mediavilla ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Load Distribution ◽  
Failure Modes ◽  
Failure Mechanisms ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Concrete Surface ◽  
Hydraulic Pressure ◽  
Valuable Insight ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Abrasive Erosion ◽  
Field Experimentation

One of the most common failure modes of concrete crossties in North America is the degradation of the concrete surface at the crosstie rail seat, also known as rail seat deterioration (RSD). Loss of material beneath the rail can lead to wide gauge, rail cant deficiency, and an increased risk of rail rollover. Previous research conducted at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) has identified five primary failure mechanisms: abrasion, crushing, freeze-thaw damage, hydro-abrasive erosion, and hydraulic pressure cracking. The magnitude and distribution of load applied to the rail seat affects four of these five mechanisms; therefore, it is important to understand the characteristics of the rail seat load distribution to effectively address RSD. As part of a larger study funded by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) aimed at improving concrete crossties and fastening systems, researchers at UIUC are attempting to characterize the loading environment at the rail seat using matrix-based tactile surface sensors (MBTSS). This instrumentation technology has been implemented in both laboratory and field experimentation, and has provided valuable insight into the distribution of a single load over consecutive crossties. A review of past research into RSD characteristics and failure mechanisms has been conducted to integrate data from field experimentation with existing knowledge, to further explore the role of the rail seat load distribution on RSD. The knowledge gained from this experimentation will be integrated with associated research conducted at UIUC to form the framework for a mechanistic design approach for concrete crossties and fastening systems.

scholarly journals Physical modelling of failure in composites

2016 ◽  
Vol 374 (2071) ◽  
pp. 20150280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramesh Talreja
Keyword(s):  
Composite Materials ◽  
Failure Modes ◽  
Structural Integrity ◽  
Failure Mechanisms ◽  
Local Stress ◽  
Physical Modelling ◽  
Stress Fields ◽  
Systematic Analysis ◽  
Composite Failure ◽  
Failure Theories

Structural integrity of composite materials is governed by failure mechanisms that initiate at the scale of the microstructure. The local stress fields evolve with the progression of the failure mechanisms. Within the full span from initiation to criticality of the failure mechanisms, the governing length scales in a fibre-reinforced composite change from the fibre size to the characteristic fibre-architecture sizes, and eventually to a structural size, depending on the composite configuration and structural geometry as well as the imposed loading environment. Thus, a physical modelling of failure in composites must necessarily be of multi-scale nature, although not always with the same hierarchy for each failure mode. With this background, the paper examines the currently available main composite failure theories to assess their ability to capture the essential features of failure. A case is made for an alternative in the form of physical modelling and its skeleton is constructed based on physical observations and systematic analysis of the basic failure modes and associated stress fields and energy balances. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Multiscale modelling of the structural integrity of composite materials’.

Stiction Failure Mechanisms of the Micromachined Electrostatic Comb-Drive Structures

2011 ◽  
Vol 80-81 ◽  
pp. 850-854
Author(s):  
Yi Shen Xu ◽  
Ji Hua Gu ◽  
Zhi Tao
Keyword(s):  
Failure Modes ◽  
Failure Mechanisms ◽  
Mems Devices ◽  
Comb Drive ◽  
Interfacial Forces ◽  
Restoring Forces ◽  
Critical Investigation

Stiction is one of the most important and almost unavoidable problems in MEMS, which usually occurs when the restoring forces of the microstructures are unable to overcome the interfacial forces. Stiction could compromise the performance and reliability of the MEMS devices or may even make them malfunction. One of the pivotal process of advancing the performance and reliability of MEMS is to comprehend the failure modes and failure mechanisms of these microdevices. This article provides a critical investigation on the stiction failure mechanisms of the micromachined electrostatic comb-drive structures, which is significant to improve the reliability of microdevices, especially for microfilters, microgrippers, microaccelerometers, microgyroscopes, microrelays, and so on.

Influence of Human Error on Structural Reliability

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Brehm ◽  
Robert Hertle ◽  
Markus Wetzel
Keyword(s):  
Human Error ◽  
Structural Reliability ◽  
Failure Modes ◽  
Structural Model ◽  
Limit State ◽  
Design Procedure ◽  
Material Strength ◽  
Limit States ◽  
The Impact

In common structural design, random variables, such as material strength or loads, are represented by fixed numbers defined in design codes. This is also referred to as deterministic design. Addressing the random character of these variables directly, the probabilistic design procedure allows the determination of the probability of exceeding a defined limit state. This probability is referred to as failure probability. From there, the structural reliability, representing the survival probability, can be determined. Structural reliability thus is a property of a structure or structural member, depending on the relevant limit states, failure modes and basic variables. This is the basis for the determination of partial safety factors which are, for sake of a simpler design, applied within deterministic design procedures. In addition to the basic variables in terms of material and loads, further basic variables representing the structural model have to be considered. These depend strongly on the experience of the design engineer and the level of detailing of the model. However, in the clear majority of cases [1] failure does not occur due to unexpectedly high or low values of loads or material strength. The most common reasons for failure are human errors in design and execution. This paper will provide practical examples of original designs affected by human error and will assess the impact on structural reliability.

Materials Failure Logic Models—A Procedure for Systematic Identification of Material Failure Modes in Mechanical Components

1982 ◽  
Vol 104 (3) ◽  
pp. 626-634 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. L. Marriott ◽  
N. R. Miller
Keyword(s):  
Failure Modes ◽  
Planning Process ◽  
Service Failure ◽  
Failure Mechanisms ◽  
Material Failure ◽  
Cad System ◽  
Logic Models ◽  
Identification Technique ◽  
Mechanical Components ◽  
Systematic Identification

This paper addresses the problem of improvement of mechanical component reliability by the systematic identification of material failure mechanisms. Experience shows that, in many cases of service failure, failure was caused by a known mechanism which was overlooked, either by design, or elsewhere in the planning process. This paper describes one approach to designing mechanical components against failure by material deterioration, but may have application to other fields. It is based on a finding from the examination of case studies which shows that material failures follow logic structures which can be described by Boolean algebra expressions. These structures are defined as Material Failure Logic Models (MFLM’s), and can be used as a means of systematically identifying potential failure mechanisms in a complex process. The identification technique is based on the observation that MFLM’s are insensitive to the precise causes of the individual events. The paper deals primarily with problems of defining MFLM’s. Some examples of MFLM’s are given. A brief discussion is presented of a CAD system under development at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

scholarly journals MANUFACTURE OF A DIE PROTOTYPE FOR DIDACTIC PURPOSES IN MECHATRONIC ENGINEERING

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-40
Author(s):  
ELIEL EDUARDO MONTIJO-VALENZUELA ◽  
SAUL DANIEL DURAN-JIMENEZ ◽  
LUIS ALBERTO ALTAMIRANO-RÍOS ◽  
JOSÉ ISAEL PÉREZ-GÓMEZ ◽  
OSCAR SALMÓN-AROCHI
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Design ◽  
Theoretical Calculations ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Die Design ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Technological Institute ◽  
Computer Aided ◽  
Cad Models ◽  
Functional Prototype ◽  
Definition Of

The objective of this research is to manufacture a prototype of a teaching die for the specialty of precision mechanical design in mechatronic engineering, in order to achieve the skills required in unit two, regarding dies. The methodology used consists of five stages: 1. Definition of the preliminary conditions. 2. Theoretical calculations for die design. 3. Design, modeling and assembly using computer-aided software (CAD) of the parts that make up the die. 4. Validation with simulation of finite element analysis (AEF). 5. Manufacture of parts and physical assembly of the die. A functional prototype was obtained with which the teacher and student can perform calculations, designs and CAD models, AEF analysis of the static and fatigue type, manufacture of rapid prototypes using 3D printing, the identification of the parts that make up a die and their functioning. The advantage of this prototype, compared to metal die-cutting machines, is its low cost of production and manufacturing, it does not require expensive and specialized machinery for manufacturing, specific designs can be made by the students and its subsequent manufacture within the laboratories of the Technological Institute of Hermosillo.

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