Papers by Keyword: Fatigue Life Assessment

Abstract: Fretting fatigue denotes the detrimental effect on a material arising from the cyclic sliding of two contacting surfaces with small relative displacements between them. One or both of the components in contact may be subject to bulk stresses caused by cyclic loads. The assessment of the fretting fatigue strength and life of any component is a complicated issue due to the many parameters affecting it, the complexity of the stress fields cyclic variation during fretting and the uncertainties associated to the contact conditions. This paper describes some singular aspects of fretting fatigue related to strength analysis and testing, presents a procedure developed by the authors during the last years to estimate the fretting fatigue strength and life and compares the assessment outcomes with the results of tests carried out by different authors.

Abstract: This paper is aimed to investigate the fatigue assessment of aluminium alloy 6061specimen, one of the widely used aluminium alloys in the production of mechanical components. The alloy possesses the ability of critical failure caused by fatigue when they are subjected to dynamic responses in automotive-type components. The specimens were prepared according to the ASTM E606 and ASTM E1820 standards which were then subjected to two types of cyclic loading amplitude modes namely constant amplitude and random amplitude. The effort is initiated by implementing fatigue data editing approach for random amplitude signal, the conventional method, the finite element method (FEM) and fatigue assessment determination through the statistical method of root mean square (r.m.s) and kurtosis. The input and edited signal acquired will be analyzed for the prediction of the fatigue damage based on the strain model approaches, i.e. Coffin-Manson, Morrow and SWT. From the results obtained, both edited and non-edited signals load display the same amount of fatigue damage to consequently decrease the analysis duration. In addition, the FEM was found to be the best approach for estimating the fatigue life. This research has finally revealed that the higher cyclic load amplitude will only diminish the fatigue life of a specimen. Furthermore, this fatigue assessment study will look forward to improve structural engineering development in monitoring components and consequently access the damage prediction variable which could later be implemented to the manufacturing industry.

Abstract: The algorithm of fatigue life determination for machine elements subjected to random loading uses fatigue characteristics of the material determined under constant-amplitude loading. They are usually stress or strain characteristics as well as characteristics using the energy parameter. Their correct selection influences correctness of the obtained results related to the experimental data. The paper presents analysis of convergence of the calculated fatigue lives of some constructional materials subjected to random loading under uniaxial loading state. For calculations concerning one material the same loading state was assumed and fatigue characteristics were determined on the basis of one data set obtained under constant strain amplitude tests. Calculated fatigue lives based on different fatigue characteristics were compared and their convergences were tested. It has been proved that convergences are different depending on the material. The comparison results were presented in form of graphs.

Abstract: As one of the main configurations of the riser, top tensioned riser(TTR) encounters harsh environment in its whole service life. In order to ensure that the riser will fulfil its intended functions, a fatigue assessment should be carried out for each representative riser, which is subjected to dynamic fatigue loading. The fatigue life of TTR under the combination excitation of random waves, current and vessel motion is analyzed in this paper. The long-term stress histories of the riser are calculated and the mean stresses, the number of stress cycles and amplitudes are determined by rain flow counting method. The Palmgren-Miner rule for cumulative damage theory with a specified S–N curve is used to estimate the fatigue life of the riser. The corresponding numerical programs which can be used to calculate the response and fatigue life of the riser are compiled. The significant influences of internal flow velocities and low frequency motion of the vessel are analyzed in detail.

Abstract: In the ASME Code Section III ‘design by analysis’ approach, stresses are determined by numerical method and compared with corresponding stress limits. This approach provides several stress criteria for fatigue life assessment and procedures for categorizing the representative stress components. Since the stress criteria were derived from two-dimensional basis, however, it may inappropriate to delineate structural components with complex geometry. In this paper, detailed transient analyses are performed for modular pressurizer with an asymmetric geometry, which includes perforated parts to mount various piping and equipments. Also, the applicability of an effective elastic modulus to consider the perforation and the appropriateness of stress linearization method using stress classification line are assessed. Then, the cumulative usage factor as well as stress intensities at critical locations of the pressurizer are calculated and compared with corresponding allowable design stress limits. The key findings of this work can be used to make regulatory guides for evaluation and confirmation of structural intensity of components with asymmetric perforated parts.

Abstract: This paper attempts to critically review some numerical methods for fatigue strength assessment of welded joints by means of stress analysis tools (usually FE models). In particular, it focuses on the significance of geometrical model, by distinguishing beams from shells and solids, more than distinguishing among nominal, structural and notch stress type. In addition, basing on continuous mechanics theories, a distinction between “local” and “non-local” stress approaches is proposed. Finally the advantages of notch stress approaches are showed by commenting also problems connected to multiaxiality and three-dimensionality of stress states.

Abstract: A method for probabilistic fatigue life assessment of steel bridges by using long-term monitoring data is proposed and applied for fatigue reliability analysis of the suspension Tsing Ma Bridge. In this method, the daily number of cycles for each stress range is obtained from the measured stress history and its probability distribution is estimated based on statistical analysis of long-term measurement data. The statistics obtained for all concerned stress ranges is combined with the S−N relationships stipulated in specifications to conduct a probabilistic assessment of fatigue life with the use of the Palmgren-Miner rule, from which the mean value and standard deviation of the fatigue life as well as the failure probability and reliability index versus fatigue life are obtained. The proposed method is illustrated by using 80-day strain measurement data from the suspension Tsing Ma Bridge which is instrumented with a long-term structural health monitoring system.

Abstract: For a rational design of a welded joint, it is necessary to repeatedly assess the fatigue life of the joint with various dimensions and welding conditions. In this paper, an automated, repeatable/repetitive fatigue life assessment process for a welded cruciform joint was studied. The process consists of a structural analysis to obtain the stress distribution in the vicinity of the weldtoe, a thermal elasto-plastic analysis to determine the welding residual stress, and a fatigue life assessment based on the analyzed stress distribution and welding residual stress. With changes in design conditions including dimensions and/or welding heat input, the aforementioned tasks have to be performed. Using a commercial tool for system integration, automation of a repeated process for a welded cruciform joint based on 2D modeling was achieved. In this automated system, data exchanges between programs, regardless of whether they are commercial or in-house, work well, and parametric studies for optimal design can be performed.