SCHEDULING INSPECTIONS AND PREDICTING END-OF-LIFE FOR MACHINE COMPONENTS

A method for operating a machine component under stress. The method comprises determining a probability of failure PoF(N) of the component as a function of N cycles, selecting a time-based acceptable risk limit for the component and selecting an operational profile for the component, converting the time-based acceptable risk limit to a cycle-based acceptable risk limit using the operational profile, comparing the cycle-based acceptable risk limit with the PoF(N) values to determine an operational status of the component, comparing the cycle-based acceptable risk limit with the PoF(N) values, and operating the machine component responsive to results of the comparing step.