An accelerated life test : fundamental idea and design development : an honors thesis (HONRS 499)

Abstract

Today, nearly a quarter of all U. S. electricity is consumed by lighting. Consequently, there is a huge drive by the lighting industry to develop more efficient sources of lighting. One major factor preventing speedy development of new lighting technologies, however, is the lengthy test required to test the life span of new products. An average life test can take as long as two to three years to complete. A faster, accelerated life test is desperately needed to speed along efficient lighting production, but a faster test does simply not exist. Starting with one fundamental idea for an accelerated life test, this paper outlines two possible approaches for designing an accelerated life test.