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Confidence Limits - Exponential Distribution

If equipment could be tested for infinite time, a "true" mean time between failure (MTBF) could be computed. However, since that is not feasible, it is often desirable to calculate confidence bounds based on far more limited information. Instead of simply quoting a "point estimate" MTBF, reliability engineers are usually most interested in the lower bound MTBF, for example, to state that "the MTBF is at least 1,800 hours with 90% confidence." As shown in the picture below, with little experience (few failures) the upper and lower confidence bands are very wide. For example, with only one failure over 100 hours, the point estimate MTBF is 100 hours, with an upper limit 50% confidence bound (red line) of approximately 350 hours and a lower 50% confidence bound of approximately 40 hours. As experience increases (more failures), these bands become much tighter.

Multiplication Factors for Determining Confidence Levels Based on Number of Failures.
Multiplication Factors for Determining Confidence Levels Based on Number of Failures

Two situations have to be considered for estimating confidence intervals:
1. A test that is run until a pre-assigned number of failures have occurred.
2. A test that is stopped after a pre-assigned number of test hours have accumulated.

The formula for the confidence interval employs the χ 2 (chi-square) distribution. The general notation used is:

χ 2p,d
where p and d are two constants used to choose the correct χ 2 value.
p is a function of the confidence coefficient.
d is the degrees of freedom, which is a function of the number of failures.

For tests with no failures occurring, only the one-sided lower confidence limit can be calculated, using equation 2 shown below.

Confidence
Failure Truncated Test
Time Truncated Test
One Sided
(Lower Limit)
Equ. 1

Confidence, one sided, lower limit, fixed number of failures.
Equ. 2

Confidence, one sided, lower limit, fixed truncation time.
Two Sided
(Upper and Lower Limits)
Equ. 3

Confidence, one sided, lower limit, fixed truncation time.
Equ. 4

Confidence, two sided, fixed truncation time.

The terms used are identified as follows:

T = total accumulated unit-hours
r = total number of failures
α = acceptable risk of error
1 - α = confidence level

Calculation Inputs:

1. Accumulated unit-hours (T, hours):
2. Number of failures (r):
3. Confidence level:
4. Test type:
5. Output:
6. Decimal places: θ λ



Featured Reference:

Reliability Engineering: Theory and Practice
Reliability Engineering: Theory and Practice


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References:

  1. MIL-HDBK-338, Electronic Reliability Design Handbook.
  2. Bazovsky, Igor, Reliability Theory and Practice.
  3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chi-square
  4. O'Connor, Patrick, D. T., Practical Reliability Engineering.
  5. Birolini, Alessandro, Reliability Engineering: Theory and Practice.