RESEARCH AND INVESTIGATION OF ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES FOR PREDICTING RELIABILITY OF FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEMS AND COMPONENTS.

Abstract : Previous reliability research efforts by Battelle developed an analytical technique called the Moment method for predicting drift-type failures of components and systems, and applied this technique to a number of components and subsystems. This report presents an extension of the Moment method which permits it to handle systems whose performance characteristics are related to part parameters by non-linear transfer functions, and whose part parameters have non-normal distributions. Bellows seals for a liquid-metal servoactuating subsystem were analyzed and their fatigue life was estimated. Portions of a servovalve for the same subsystem were simulated physically and subjected to operation at elevated temperature and pressure to establish wear data for possible future use in a Moment method analysis. Six rate gyros were tested and modeled, and the Moment method applied to the results. Critical parameters affecting gyro sensitivity and damping factor were established. (Author)