Reliability simulation method for a PCB assembly

A computer implemented method of simulation for identifying those components of a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) assembly that are most expected to suffer from field failure, comprising the steps of:

• a). pre-defining Mode Shape Types and assigning a Threat Weight to each Mode Shape Type;
• b). creating on a computer a computerized model of the PCB assembly from which natural frequencies, and mode shapes of the PCB assembly and its components can be determined;
• c). performing on said computerized PCB assembly model a natural frequencies simulation and determining natural frequencies, and mode shapes of said PCB assembly and its components;
• and
• d). from said determined natural frequencies and mode shapes, identifying local dominant oscillations of components, wherein each component identified as having a local dominant oscillation in at least one of said determined mode shapes is concluded to have higher probability for field failure compared to the other components of said PCB assembly, and further for each component having a local dominant oscillation, matching between the determined mode shapes and said predefined Mode Shape Types, thereby determining a corresponding Threat Weight for each of said identified components, and wherein a component higher Threat Weight means a shorter duration until a component failure.