Development of Characterization of Failure Modes for Mechanical Components

This proposal describes a new process to facilitate the shock qualification of submarine components, taking advantage of the similarities between readily observable design features of these components, and correlating them to success or failure in Navy shock qualification tests. To realize this Design Feature Similarity (DFS) approach, we will develop a set of criteria based on this type of readily observable design feature, and a new database correlating shock test / simulation success with these features, to allow NAVSEA and vendor engineers to confidently make quantitative assessments of the likelihood that an item will pass a shock qualification by extension, needs to be redesigned or should be tested.