On thermodynamic reliability engineering
Section I contains: Thermodynamics: A fundamental science for physics-of-failure. Although reliability mathematics is well established, having probability theory as its basic tool, the reliability science for physics-of-failure lacks a basic foundation. Thermodynamics is a natural candidate. Many engineers do not realize how closely thermodynamics is tied to reliability, because these subjects are treated separately. This section applies the laws of thermodynamics and reliability theory to illustrate the key aspects that link these sciences into "thermodynamic reliability engineering" which helps to understand the reliability physics-of-failure problems. Section II: contains: Aging mechanisms and derivations of key physics-of-failure equations used in accelerated testing and reliability analysis, Irreversible mechanisms that cause aging are discussed (using a thermodynamic framework) along with key physics-of-failure reliability models related to aging. In so doing we derive key physics-of-failure time-compression equations used in reliability stemming from Minor's hypothesis, the Coffin-Manson power law Peck's humidity model, and diffusion methods. Section III contains: Time-dependent parametric aging associated with activated processes, When thermal activation is the rate-controlling process, Arrhenius rate kinetics apply, The parametric time-dependence of an Arrhenius mechanism is addressed and leads to predictable time-dependent aging for certain measurable parameters, Our earlier work developed a thermally: activated time-dependent model. This paper describes the shape of the free energy aging path in that model. The results are illustrated for some problems in microelectronics.
thermodynamics physics-of-failure irreversibility time-compression diffusion free energy activation free-energy corrosion cyclic work entropy equilibrium fatigue log(time)aging nonequilibrium thermodynamics state variable thermally-activated time-dependent model thermodynamic work