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Mechanical Reliability Prediction Software Package

MechRel automates the use of the "Handbook of Reliability Prediction Procedures for Mechanical Equipment" and guides the user through the application of material properties, design parameters, and the intended operating environment to a conclusion of how the equipment will perform in actual conditions. Those parameters sensitive to wear, fatigue and other forms of degradation as a function of time are identified by running the MechRel program. Failure rates as a function of time are then calculated at the part, assembly and system levels. High failure rate components are identified as to the potential failure cause so that corrective action can be taken in the early development phase and a logistics support strategy initiated.

MechRel is used to perform different types of reliability analyses of mechanical designs and determine logistics support requirements. Using MechRel saves considerable expense during the early development phase by determining the reliability, availability and maintainability characteristics long before the expensive "test analyze and fix" phase of design development. The result is the assurance of design integrity prior to equipment installation and use. MechRel then extends these cost savings to actual equipment usage through early identification of an optimum maintenance philosophy, logistics support requirements and real time calculations of remaining life.

MechRel is an enhancement to any platform analysis. It provides a more accurate determination of failure event probabilities, probabilities of occurrence for individual failure modes, and supports the transition from hard time maintenance to conditioning monitoring and condition based maintenance. For example, CDNSWC engineers have demonstrated the use of MechRel remaining life equations for an automated diagnostic and prognostic system.

An analysis of a design for reliability and maintainability identifies critical failure modes and causes of unreliability, and provides an effective tool for designing the most cost effective logistics support plan for the product. Applying MechRel to a new product design provides a sound basis for determining spare parts requirements, needed redesign efforts, and reallocation of logistics resources to assure that R&M requirements for a particular system will be met.

The result of using MechRel is the assurance of design integrity, reliable equipment performance and cost effective logistics support.

Typical applications of MechRel include:

• Failure Mode, Effects and Criticality Analysis (FMECA)
• Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM)
• Reliability Predictions
• Maintainability Analysis
• Safety Analysis
• Cost Benefit Analysis
• Logistics Support Analysis

The MechRel software package is being circulated to interested personnel in industry, academia and the Department of Defense. The software contains user instructions and built-in help routines.