Patent ID: 7454963

Claim:
A method for ensuring the reliability of technical components, especially of internal combustion engines and the parts thereof, by means of a test program, comprising the following steps: a) selection of at least one critical component and at least one critical damage mode; b) definition of a reliability target goal for each critical component; c) selection of at least one test procedure for each critical component; d) allocation of a test duration and/or test length for each test procedure; e) allocation of acceleration factors in connection with the individual components and test procedures; f) determination of an equivalent test duration and/or test length for the critical component and the respective test by means of acceleration factors and test duration or test length; g) calculation of the verifiable reliability for the critical component on the basis of the chosen test procedure; h) comparison of the verifiable reliability with the reliability target; and i) modification of the test program when verifiable reliability deviates from the reliability target and the departure is larger than a predefined tolerance quantity.