Abstract
Test procedures on components fall generally into four categories: (a) overcoming service troubles; (6) design studies; (c) acceptance testing; (d) quality control. Some tests may be undertaken in complete vehicles, but the use of special test rigs, in which components can be tested in isolation, offers a number of advantages. Rig tests are generally a compromise between simplicity and realism. It is important to be able to reproduce the type of deterioration which occurs in service, and the study of service failures is helpful. Measurements of service loadings and environmental influences are in many cases desirable, and where examples of service failure are not available, these measurements are essential.
Most laboratory tests merely indicate, with some approximation, whether one component is better than another, and it is usually not possible to determine confidently whether a component is suitable for service. To maintain a high level of reliability in components in service, coupled with efficient design, it is necessary to introduce more realism, both in laboratory tests and proving ground tests. This is being done to a limited extent, and a method is also available for relating both proving ground performance and laboratory performance to behaviour in service. Much more needs to be done to establish the most suitable techniques.
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