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If the focus during product development is on estimating a failure distribution function or a lifetime-quantile, analysis of failure behavior or determination of optimal design alternatives, there is often no alternative to life tests until failure. Alongside the determination of sample size for a desired accuracy of the result, engineers are also faced with the challenge of selecting the most suitable life test type at limited cost, time and test rig capacities. In this paper, results of a comprehensive simulation study are presented. Sudden Death tests, type-I and type-II censored and non-censored life test types are compared for two-parameter Weibull distributed data with respect to accuracy, time, cost and the investigation target. Significant influencing factors and boundary conditions, such as the maximum number of test rigs available, are taken into account to assure the practical applicability of the procedure for planning life tests. The database generated provides recommendations for an appropriate test configuration within an accuracy, time and cost triangle, including optimal test parameters. Furthermore, it enables engineers to substantiate qualitatively known correlations with numbers. This information can be used to describe the influence of a shift in boundary conditions. Finally, the use of the simulation results as basis for planning life tests is illustrated in a case study. |
