Determination of Residual Lifetime of Electrical Contacts by Sonogram Analysis

摘要

To determine the residual lifetime of electrical contacts we have generated a statistical database to specify the best prediction parameter which was found out to be the contact mass. The mass of the contact was correlated with the time-frequency behaviour (sonogram) of a broadband acoustic impulse which was coupled into the contact piece. First results indicate a good correlation of the contact mass with an integrated area of the sonogramm. The measurement will lead to the determination of the residual lifetime of the contacts. Further improvements of the precision of residual lifetime determination are planned to be done by simulation to uncover relevant areas in the sonogram.