Computational Methods For Failure Analysis And Life Prediction

This book illustrates a number of modelling and computational techniques for addressing relevant issues in reliability and risk analysis. In particular, it provides: i) a basic illustration of some methods used in reliability and risk analysis for modelling the stochastic failure and repair behaviour of systems, e.g. the Markov and Monte Carlo simulation methods; ii) an introduction to Genetic Algorithms, tailored to their application for RAMS (Reliability, Availability, Maintainability and Safety) optimization; iii) an introduction to key issues of system reliability and risk analysis, like dependent failures and importance measures; and iv) a presentation of the issue of uncertainty and of the techniques of sensitivity and uncertainty analysis used in support of reliability and risk analysis.The book provides a technical basis for senior undergraduate or graduate courses and a reference for researchers and practitioners in the field of reliability and risk analysis. Several practical examples are included to demonstrate the application of the concepts and techniques in practice.

Gears are machine elements used in most engineering applications, mainly in the automotive and aerospace industries. When designing gear drives, the available standardised procedures are usually used for that purpose. However, the available computational methods are also often applied to obtain the load capacity of gears considering different fatigue design approaches (i.e. the stress-life approach, the strain-life approach and the fatigue crack growth approach). This book consists of five chapters. The first chapter introduces the reader to the fundamental magnitudes of gear drives concerning cylindrical gear pairs, bevel gear pairs, and worm gear pairs. The second chapter explains the theoretical background of the load capacity of gears; surface pitting load capacity and tooth root load capacity are described in detail. The third chapter focuses on the strength analyses of metal gears. Chapters four and five describe the strength analyses of sintered and polymer gears, including some typical practical examples.