Cumulative damage model for fatigue crack growth based on reaction rate theory—II

Abstract A study is continued of a macro model of fatigue crack growth (FCG) that is based upon a micro result from reaction rate theory. The previously presented deterministic (mean) model is examined further, and a probabilistic model is introduced. Analysis of FCG data for periodic tensile loads reveals that three material parameters are required. The model also explicitly contains the load and the temperature T . It is shown that T and the form of the periodic load are important quantities, of which the former has interesting implications for accelerated testing. The minimum amount of testing required for predictive purposes is also discussed.