Fatigue life predictions using fracture mechanics methods

In the present work, a simple engineering approach which is based on a relatively solid background and which is checked against fatigue test data for various test conditions was developed: it may provide a practical and reliable basis for the analysis of structures under in-service loading conditions, in the presence of previous corrosion attack, or in the presence of a residual stress field, by using widespread fracture mechanics software. In particular, the approach was checked against an experimental program which consists of the following fatigue tests: base and friction stir welded (FSW) material under constant amplitude loading at different loading ratios (R = 0.1, 0.5, −1); pre-corroded base and FSW material under constant amplitude loading at load ratio R = 0.1; centre hole FSW specimens under the standardised variable amplitude loading spectrum FALSTAFF. Moreover, from the literature fatigue experiments under FALSTAFF of cold expanded as well as not cold expended holes were also used to validate the approach. The predictions were performed with the last version of AFGROW and NASGRO 3.0 software.