failure modes
How things fail
Failure modes are the specific ways something can go wrong or break down.
Engineering and design use the term to categorize potential problems: We analyzed all possible failure modes before launch.
The phrase extends to any systematic consideration of how things might fail—relationships, organizations, plans.
A failure mode analysis identifies vulnerabilities before they cause actual failures.
- fail safeProtective default mechanism
- creepStealthy, slow movement
- overheatingBecoming dangerously warm
- fractureSplit in hard material
- short circuitAccidental low-resistance path
fatigue · corrosion · miscalculation · buckling · buffer overflow · procedural error · wear · infant mortality · memory leak · miscommunication · race condition · deadlock · thermal runaway · runtime error · system crash · oversight · bug · stress
- maintenancepreventive maintenance, maintenance schedule, scheduled maintenance, handyman, repair
- flawsfaults, defect, flaw, blemish, flaws
- radiation effectsradiation sickness, health effects, hair loss, nausea, vomiting
- risk analysisrisk assessment, risk management, risk mitigation, risk analysis, risk factors
- spacecraft testingflight testing, stress testing, safety testing, testing protocols, preflight