Does power devices sensitivity to mechanical stresses can be used as sensor for power assembly health monitoring?

The effect of mechanical stresses on planar Punch Through IGBT chips is investigated both by experiments and simulations. Experimental electrical characterizations under mechanical stresses are achieved with the help of a dedicated test bench and specific test vehicles. Furthermore, 2D and 3D finite elements electrical simulations under mechanical stresses are carried out on one hand to understand the device behavior by internal physics analysis and on the other hand to identify the most sensitive part of the chip to mechanical stress. The ultimate issue should lead to power assembly health monitoring by providing information on its mechanical state.