Parameter Estimation Based on Censored Data under Partially Accelerated Life Testing for Hybrid Systems due to Unknown Failure Causes

In general,simple subsystems like series or parallel are integrated to produce a complex hybrid system.The reliability of a system is determined by the reliability of its constituent components.It is often extremely difficult or impossible to get specific information about the component that caused the system to fail.Unknown failure causes are instances in which the actual cause of systemfailure is unknown.On the other side,thanks to current advanced technology based on computers,automation,and simulation,products have become incredibly dependable and trustworthy,and as a result,obtaining failure data for testing such exceptionally reliable items have become a very costly and time-consuming procedure.Therefore,because of its capacity to produce rapid and adequate failure data in a short period of time,accelerated life testing(ALT)is the most utilized approach in the field of product reliability and life testing.Based on progressively hybrid censored(PrHC)data froma three-component parallel series hybrid system that failed to owe to unknown causes,this paper investigates a challenging problem of parameter estimation and reliability assessment under a step stress partially accelerated life-test(SSPALT).Failures of components are considered to follow a power linear hazard rate(PLHR),which can be used when the failure rate displays linear,decreasing,increasing or bathtub failure patterns.The Tempered random variable(TRV)model is considered to reflect the effect of the high stress level used to induce early failure data.The maximum likelihood estimation(MLE)approach is used to estimate the parameters of the PLHR distribution and the acceleration factor.A variance covariance matrix(VCM)is then obtained to construct the approximate confidence intervals(ACIs).In addition,studentized bootstrap confidence intervals(ST-B CIs)are also constructed and compared with ACIs in terms of their respective interval lengths(ILs).Moreover,a simulation study is conducted to demonstrate the performance of the estimation procedures and the methodology discussed in this paper.Finally,real failure data from the air conditioning systems of an airplane is used to illustrate further the performance of the suggested estimation technique.

Statistical analysis of dependent competing risks model in constant stress accelerated life testing with progressive censoring based on copula function

In this paper, we consider the statistical analysis for the dependent competing risks model in theconstant stress accelerated life testing (CSALT) with Type-II progressive censoring. It is focusedon two competing risks from Lomax distribution. The maximum likelihood estimators of theunknown parameters, the acceleration coefficients and the reliability of unit are obtained by usingthe Bivariate Pareto Copula function and the measure of dependence known as Kendall’s tau.In addition, the 95% confidence intervals as well as the coverage percentages are obtained byusing Bootstrap-p and Bootstrap-t method. Then, a simulation study is carried out by the MonteCarlo method for different measures of Kendall’s tau and different testing schemes. Finally, a realcompeting risks data is analysed for illustrative purposes. The results indicate that using copulafunction to deal with the dependent competing risks problems is effective and feasible.

Research of Step-down Stress Accelerated Degradation Data Assessment Method of a Certain Type of Missile Tank

The performance degradation rates of the missile tank are generally time-varying functions uneasily evaluated by general classical evaluation methods. This paper develops a segmented nonlinear accelerated degradation model （SNADM） based on the equivalent method of accumulative damage theory, which tackles the problem that product life is difficult to be determined with degradation rate being a function of the variable of time. A segmented expression of the function of population accumulative degradation is derived. And combined with nonlinear function, an accelerated degradation function, i.e., SNADM is obtained. The parameters of the SNADM are identified by numerical iteration, and the statistical function of degradation track is extrapolated. The reliability function is determined through the type of random process of the degradation distribution. Then an evaluation of product storage life is undertaken by combining the statistical function of degradation track, reliability function and threshold. An example of a missile tank undergoes a step-down stress accelerated degradation test （SDSADT）, in which the results with the SNADM and the classical method are evaluated and compared. The technology introduced is validated with the resultant coincidence of both evaluated and field storage lives.

Graphene/carbon structured catalyst layer to enhance the performance and durability of the high-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells

In this study,nitrogen doped electrochemically exfoliated reduced graphene oxide and carbon black supported platinum(Pt/Nr EGO_(2)-CB_(3))has been prepared to enhance the performance and durability of hightemperature PEMFCs with lower Pt loading.On the one hand,Pt/Nr EGO_(2)-CB_(3)with the strong interaction between the Pt and nitrogen(N)prevent agglomeration of Pt particles and Pt particles is 5.46±1.46 nm,which is smaller than that of 6.78±1.34 nm in Pt/C.Meanwhile,ECSA of Pt/Nr EGO_(2)-CB_(3)decrease 13.65%after AST,which is much lower than that of 97.99%in Pt/C.On the other hand,the Nr EGO flakes in MEAac act as a barrier to mitigate phosphoric acid redistribution,which improves the formation of triple-phase boundaries(TPBs)and gives stable operation of the MEAacwith a lower decay rate of 0.02 mV h^(-1)within100 h.After steady-state operation,the maximum power density of Pt/Nr EGO_(2)-CB_(3)(0.411 W cm^(-2))is three times higher than that of conventional Pt/C(0.134 W cm^(-2))in high-temperature PEMFCs.After AST,the mass transfer resistance of Pt/Nr EGO_(2)-CB_(3)electrode(0.560Ωcm^(2))is lower than that in Pt/C(0.728Ωcm^(2)).

Relation between half-cell and fuel cell activity and stability of FeNC catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction

FeNC catalysts are promising substitutes of platinum-type catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction(ORR).While previous research disclosed that high pyrolysis temperatures are required to achieve good stability,it was identified that a trade-off needs to be made regarding the active site density.The central question is,if a good stability can also be reached at milder pyrolysis conditions but longer duration retaining more active sites,while enabling the defect-rich carbon to heal during a long residence time?To address this,a variation of pyrolysis temperatures and durations is used in FeNC fabrication.Carbon morphology and iron species are characterized by Raman spectroscopy and Mössbauer spectroscopy,respectively.Fuel cell(FC)activity and stability data are acquired.The results are compared to ORR activity and selectivity data from rotating ring disc electrode experiments and resulting durability in accelerated stress tests mimicking the load cycle and start-up and shut-down cycle conditions.It is discussed how pyrolysis temperature and duration affect FC activity and stability.But,more important,the results connect the pyrolysis conditions to the required accelerated stress test protocol combination to enable a prediction of the catalyst stability in fuel cells.