A reliability assessment method for structural metallic component with inherent flaws based on finite element analysis and probabilistic fracture mechanics model

Reliability assessment is an essential step to promote advanced materials and components into applications. In this paper, a general reliability assessment framework was proposed to predict the lifetime distribution of a structural steel component with inherent flaws. By combining materials information, finite element analysis of the stress field and probabilistic fracture mechanics model, the distribution of failure probability subjected to fatigue loads was predicted. The local failure probability distributions identify the critical regions of the component visually. Both the global failure probability and the local failure probability distribution can be considered as essential and fundamental data in structure design and system maintenance. Focus was placed on the probabilistic fracture mechanics model and fatigue crack growth model.