Reliability of Aircraft Structures in Resisting Chance Failure

In this analysis, a measure is developed for the capability of aircraft structures to withstand chance failure, as contrasted to fatigue failure, over the design life of any aircraft system. The measure developed is similar to that for reliability, except the failure rate is specified completely in terms of the power spectral properties of the structural response to the environment. This relation of the reliability to the power spectral parameters enables the reliability of a structure to be predicted. For a given environment and reliability requirement, the analysis could also be used as a basis for determining optimal structural designs.