An alternative definition of reliability reinvigorated traditional metal fatigue strength performance assessments

This paper presents three fatigue strength reliability demonstration case studies, one each at the component, subsystem and system levels. These case studies utilise classical (traditional), yet often underutilised, methods for fatigue strength assessments. It is the opinion of the authors that a primary reason behind the underutilisation of these methods lies in the operational definition of reliability under which many engineering organisations (especially automotive OEMs and their suppliers) currently make fatigue performance assessments. This paper supports an alternative definition of reliability, which when adopted into practice has reinvigorated the use of traditional (classical) fatigue performance demonstration techniques – techniques which, in recent years, were frequently replaced by key-life and/or real-world user testing. These case studies highlight the engineering information, cost and timing advantages associated with the application of these traditional fatigue performance techniques.