Abstract: The theory of life prediction is the key foundation of safety service of the machine parts and equipment, and it is also an important aspect of modern mechanical design and manufacture. Life prediction for major mechanical equipment has great significance to national economic development and national defense construction. In the struggle against failure accidents through the past nearly a century, several scientific branches such as life prediction theories based on mechanics, probability statistics, and new information technology are founded through researches on the aerocraft, ship, vehicle, generator set and other major mechanical major equipment. Aiming at the characteristics and applications of life prediction techniques for major mechanical equipment, the current research status of relevant literature is reviewed, the current hotspots and achievements of life prediction research on major mechanical equipment are summed up, problems existing in theoretical modeling and experiments in life prediction research are summarized, the difficulties of theoretical modeling, experimental verification, and data accumulation/analysis in life prediction research for major mechanical equipment are analyzed, so as to point out a helpful direction for further research.

Key words: Life prediction, Mechanical major equipments