Simulation of Fatigue Crack Growth Under Random Overloads with Retardation

Abstract

In order to study the behavior of fatigue crack propagation under random overloads, a Monte Carlo simulation scheme is proposed. Overloads of Poisson flow with uniform distribution on base-line constant-amplitude cyclic loads are considered. The retardation effect of overload is taken into account using crack closure model and the crack opening stress level is assumed to vary linearly in the yield zone produced by the overload. The fatigue crack growth curve from initial crack size till fatigue failure is simulated step by step. Through the large number of the simulated samples, the average fatigue crack propagation life is calculated. Finally, the influence of overload intensity and magnitude on fatigue crack propagation life is studied.