Life Prediction Methodology for Composite Structures. Part II

Abstract

A previously developed model for predicting the life of composite structures under constant amplitude and two-stress level fatigue loadings is extended and applied to structures subjected to randomly-ordered loading spectra. The model is phenomenological and a limited amount of experimental data is required for its characterization. For uniaxially loaded laminates, this consists of static tension and compression strength distributions, S-N curves based on constant amplitude fatigue life distributions for two-to-three stress ratios, and a limited amount of two-stress level fatigue test results. The model is verified by comparing predicted fatigue life distributions to experimentally observed fatigue life data for a variety of laminates and load spectrums. Good correlation between theory and experiment is obtained for all loadings and laminates studied.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

1. Schaff, J. R. and B. D. Davidson . 1997. "Life Prediction Methodology for Composite Structures. Part I: Constant Amplitude and Two-Stress Level Fatigue," Journal of Composite Materials, 31:128-157.

2. Hahn, H. T. 1979. "Fatigue Behavior and Life Prediction of Composite Laminates," Composite Materials, Testing and Design (Fifth Conference), ASTM STP 674, S. W. Tsai, ed., Philadelphia: American Society for Testing Materials, pp. 383-417.

3. Tsai, S. W. 1988. "Composites Design," 4th Ed., Dayton: Think Composites.

4. Talreja, R. 1981. "Estimation of Weibull Parameters for Composite Materials Strength and Fatigue Life Data," Fatigue of Fibrous Composite Materials, ASTM STP 723, Philadelphia: American Society for Testing Materials, pp. 291-311.

5. Goodman, J. 1930. Mechanics Applied to Engineering, Vol. 1, 9th Ed., London: Longmans Green.

6. Farrow, I. R. 1989. "Damage Accumulation and Degradation of Composite Laminates Under Aircraft Service Loading: Assessment and Prediction, Volumes I and 11" Cranfield Institute of Technology, Ph.D. Thesis.

7. Schutz, D. and J. J. Gerharz . 1977. "Fatigue Strength of a Fibre-Reinforced Material," Composites, 8(4):245-250.

8. Yang, J. N. and S. Du . 1983. "An Exploratory Study Into the Fatigue of Composites Under Spectrum Loading," Journal of Composite Materials, 17:511-526.

9. Miner, M. A. 1945. "Cumulative Damage in Fatigue," Journal of Applied Mechanics, 12:159-164.

10.

10. Palmgren, A. 1924. "Die Lebensdauer von Kugellagern," Zeitschrift des Vereins Deutscher Ingenieure, 68:339-341.

11.

11. Schaff, J. R. and B. D. Davidson . 1994. "Life Prediction Methodology for Composite Laminates. Part II: Spectrum Fatigue," WL-TR-4080-94, Dayton: Wright Laboratory.

12.

12. Van Dijk, G. M. and J. B. de Jonge . 1975. "Introduction to FALSTAFF," Proceedings of the 8th ICAF Symposium, ICAF Document No. 801.

13.

13. ten Have, A. A. 1989. "European Approaches in Standard Spectrum Development," Development of Fatigue Loading Spectra, ASTM STP 1006, J. M. Potter and R. T. Watanabe, eds., Philadelphia: American Society for Testing Materials, pp. 17-35.

14.

14. Schaff, J. R. and B. D. Davidson . 1994. "Life Prediction for Composite Laminates Subjected to Spectrum Fatigue Loading," Durability of Composite Materials, MD-Vol. 51, R. C. Wetherhold, ed., New York: The American Society of Mechanical Engineers, pp. 89-109.

Life Prediction Methodology for Composite Structures. Part II—Spectrum Fatigue

Abstract

Get full access to this article

References