Reliability Evaluation of Long-Life Products Based on Performance Degradation Data

Traditional reliability evaluation was based on the product's failure time. However, as product quality increases, it was difficult to collect sufficient failure data for a limited test time. With few failures or even zero failures of high-reliability and long-life products, the traditional life reliability evaluation could not meet the actual needs. Therefore, a reliability evaluation method based on performance degradation data was proposed. On the basis of the collected performance degradation data of long-life products, we developed a performance degradation model and a life distribution model. Furthermore, the parameter estimation method, model checking method, and model optimization method of the models are proposed to realize the reliability evaluation of long-life products. Finally, a certain type of quartz flexible accelerometer was taken as an example to evaluate its reliability. The mean time to failure of this type of quartz flexible accelerometer was 12.12 years, which verified the practicability of the method.