A RELIABILITY INVESTIGATION OF PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICES. PHASE 1

A methodology for developing a personal flotation device (PFD) reliability index is defined. This methodology consists of the formulation of functional and configurational models that lead to a set of reliability equations. These equations permit the calculation of overall PFD reliability, the probability that an undetected defect exists in a PFD component, and the probability that a defect is detected in a PFD component. A test plan is provided that provides guidance as to the nature of the tests that should be run and the manner in which test results can be used to estimate parameters that are part of the PFD reliability index equations. A series of recommendations is included that suggests specific follow-up actions for the enhancement of PFD reliability and improvements in their role as lifesaving devices. (Author)

• Corporate Authors:

  Operations Research, Incorporated

  1400 Spring Street
  Silver Spring, MD  United States  20910
• Authors:
  • Greenhouse, L
  • Kerne, B
  • Weiers, D
• Publication Date: 1973-8

Media Info

• Pagination: 90 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Equations; Life preservers; Marine safety; Reliability; Rescue equipment; Safety equipment
• Uncontrolled Terms: Life jackets; Model tests
• Old TRIS Terms: Cg
• Subject Areas: Marine Transportation; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00051791
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: Final Rpt
• Contract Numbers: DOT-CG-31,446-A
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 25 1974 12:00AM