Development of Characterization of Failure Modes for Mechanical Components Navy STTR FY2014.A Sol No.: Navy STTR FY2014.A Topic No.: N14A-T011 Topic Title: Development of Characterization of Failure Modes for Mechanical Components Proposal No.: N14A-011-0153 Firm: Weidlinger Associates, Inc. 40 Wall Street 18th Floor New York, New York 10005-1304 Contact: Jeffrey Cipolla Phone: (202) 649-2466 Web Site: http://www.wai.com Abstract: 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. Benefits: In its Phase I and II form, the DFS tool will allow engineers to rate components risk of failure in a shock event, before detailed analysis or testing is conducted. A design may be assigned a `red / yellow / green light' rating based on characteristics of the design compared to the design of items which have already passed or failed the qualification process. In addition, a quantification of the uncertainty of this rating, and a reporting of the criteria and data used to make the assessments, will be provided. Future shipboard items may then be qualified more readily and more rigorously through the extension process, with significant cost savings. Return