Reliability Glossary
Accelerated Testing Terms
Accelerated life testing
A testing strategy whereby units are tested at stress levels higher than use
stress in order to facilitate failures in a timely manner. The results of these
tests are then analyzed in such a manner so that a profile of the failure
behavior of the products at the use stresses can be determined based on the
behavior of the products at the accelerated stresses.
Arrhenius model
A model used in accelerated life testing to establish a relationship between
absolute temperature and reliability. It was originally developed by Swedish
chemist Svante Arrhenius to define the relationship between temperature and the
rates of chemical reaction.
Cumulative damage model
An accelerated life testing model used to model accelerated tests where the
stress levels vary with time.
Eyring model
An accelerated life testing model based on quantum mechanics, for use when
temperature is the accelerating factor.
General log-linear model
An accelerated life testing model that can account for multiple non-thermal
stresses as acceleration factors.
HALT
Highly accelerated life testing.
HASS
Highly accelerated stress screening.
Inverse power law
An accelerated life testing model commonly used when the accelerating factor is
a single, non-thermal stress.
Proportional hazards model
An accelerated life testing model that can account for multiple non-thermal
stresses as acceleration factors.
Stress testing
Testing units at stresses higher than what would be encountered during normal
operating conditions, usually to induce failures.
Temperature-humidity model
An accelerated life testing model used when the two accelerating factors are
temperature and humidity.
Temperature-non-thermal model
An accelerated life testing model used when the two accelerating factors are
temperature and another non-thermal stress factor.
