Thermodynamic Degradation Science

Preface

Thermodynamic degradation science is a new and exciting discipline. It contributes to both physics of failure and as a new area in thermodynamics. There are many different ways to approach the science of degradation. Since thermodynamics uses an energy perspective, it is a great way to analyze such problems. There is something in this book for everyone who is concerned with degradation issues. Even if you are just interested in reliability or accelerated testing, there is a lot of new and highly informative material. We also go beyond traditional physics of failure methods and develop conjugate work models and methods. It is important to have new tools such as “mesoscopic” noise degradation measurements for complex systems and a conjugate work approach to solving physics of failure problems. We cover a number of original key topics in this book, including:

• thermodynamic principles of degradation;
• conjugate work, entropy damage, and free energy degradation analysis;
• physics of failure using conjugate work approach;
• complex systems degradation analysis using noise analysis;
• mesoscopic noise entropy measurement for disorder in operating systems;
• human heart degradation noise measurements;
• cumulative entropy damage, cyclic work, and fatigue analysis;
• Miner’s rule derivation for fatigue and Miner’s rule for batteries;
• engines and efficiency degradation;
• aging laws, cumulative accelerated stress test (CAST) plans, and acceleration factors for: creep; wear; fatigue; thermal ...