Predicting the Fatigue Life in Steel and Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastics Using Damage Models

Abstract

Three cumulative damage models are examined for the case of cyclic loading of AISI 6150 steel, S2 glass fibre/epoxy and E glass fibre/epoxy composites. The Palmgren-Miner, Broutman-Sahu and Hashin-Rotem models are compared to determine which of the three gives the most accurate estimation of the fatigue life of the materials tested. In addition, comparison of the fatigue life of the materials shows the superiority of AISI 6150 steel and S2 glass fibre/epoxy at lower mean stresses, and that of steel to the composites at higher mean stresses.