Procedures for Improved Fatigue Life Assessment by Prediction of Fatigue Crack Growth in a Residual Stress Field
Status: Completed
Date Announced: March, 2009
Project reference: 19848
Life predicted from fatigue assessment can be too short when residual stress is assumed to be conservatively high and constant. - Improved methods accounting for the evolution of residual stress with proof loading, fatigue load and crack growth will provide more accurate assessments. - This project will combine experimental and modelling activities in order to define an effective stress range to be applied in assessment procedures. - Guidance notes will be prepared on the use of finite element analysis for prediction of fatigue damage in a residual stress field, and on the influence of materials properties and loading history on fatigue assessment results. This will allow life extension of engineering structures, increased safety, and improved designs, which save energy and materials.