Acceleration transforms and statistical kinetic models.

In this paper, a theory is developed for interpreting accelerated life test data in terms of physical degradation processes. First a new class of kinetic models, which we call statistical kinetic models, are derived from a set of postulates describing simple physical degradation processes. Then a class of models of life test data, acceleration transform models, describing the way time must be transformed as stress conditions vary, are derived from the statistical kinetic models. These acceleration transform models were first derived in LuValle, Welsher and Mitchell (1986) using an analogy with chemical kinetics. This paper provides both a more rigorous and more accurate basis for interpreting acceleration transform models than existed previously.