Probabilistic Properties of Fatigue Damage and an Equivalent Damage Simplification Model for Multi-Level Load Spectra

Abstract

An equivalent fatigue damage simplification model for multi-level load spectrum is proposed. On the basis of the probabilistic fatigue damage model which takes load sequence effect into account and the constant amplitude fatigue tests, probabilistic properties of damage accumulated in one loading block are achieved quantitatively by statistical methods. The new simplification model can ensure that, for the original spectrum and simplified spectrum, the probabilistic properties of fatigue damage are almost the same. Fatigue tests for Al-alloy straight plates are performed to test the validity of the model. The test results are in good agreement with predicted results.