Failures and Safety Factors

The physicochemical processes leading to component failime are very complex. Therefore, it is difiicult or even impossible to formulate a general theory describing their occurrence. Nevertheless, it is possible to describe a broad class of failures with the statistical model explained below. 

Object of analysis The object of analysis is the object of a statement on reliability. Object of analysis could be e.g. systems, sub-systems, components, functional elements. Technical objects of analysis have to be distinguished from functional ones. 

System A system is the assembly of technical and organizational means for autonomously realizing a task. A distinction must be made between technical and organizational systems. In accordance with its different functions a system comprises one ot several functional elements. 

Subsystem A technical subsystem is the combination of components for realizing coherent tasks within a technical system. A functional subsystem is the combination of functional elements for realizing coherent tasks within a functional system. 

Component A component is a unit at the lowest level in a technical system for which a statement on reliability can be made. One or several functional elements are assigned to every component. 

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