Evaluation of Failure Models through Step-Stress Tests

A model is developed for the relation between the performance degradation of a component in a step-stress test and the stresses applied during the test. Then a methodology is proposed, based on this model, which uses step-stress testing to estimate the parameters of the model that represents the predominant failure mechanism of the component. Experimental results, obtained by testing a lot of metallic layer resistors and applying the Arrhenius model, are reported.