SEDL / STP / STP1231-EB / STP13958S

Sensitivity of Equivalent Load Crack Propagation Life Assessment to Cycle-Counting Technique

Le Pautremat, E
Research engineer, Institut de Recherche de la SIDèrurgie, Saint Germain en Laye,

Olagnon, M
Research engineer, Institut Français de Recherche et d'Exploitation sur la MER, Direction Ingénierie, Technologie et Informatique, Plouzane,

Bignonnet, A
Research engineer, Peugeot SA. Chemin de la Malmaison, Bièvre,

Pages: 14    Published: Jan 1994

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Abstract

The purpose of the present study is to assess a simple prediction method for the fatigue life of structures subjected to variable amplitude loading, and to validate it in the whole range of possible irregularity factors.

This method based on an equivalent load concept (reducing the load history to constant amplitude cycles) leads to a fair prediction of fatigue life with few parameters.

Five cycle-counting methods were compared as to the determination of the equivalent load amplitude. The tests were carried out with several histories chosen either for their specific irregularity factors or to be relevant to offshore structures (WASH(W) sequence).