bathtub curve

from Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003)

bathtub curve
 n.

   Common term for the curve (resembling an end-to-end section of one of
   those claw-footed antique bathtubs) that describes the expected
   failure rate of electronics with time: initially high, dropping to
   near 0 for most of the system's lifetime, then rising again as it
   `tires out'. See also {burn-in period}, {infant mortality}.

from The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)

bathtub curve

   Common term for the curve (resembling an end-to-end section of
   one of those claw-footed antique bathtubs) that describes the
   expected failure rate of electronics with time: initially
   high, dropping to near 0 for most of the system's lifetime,
   then rising again as it "tires out".  See also {burn-in
   period}, {infant mortality}.

   [{Jargon File}]

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