An Approach to Predicting Fatigue Crack Growth under Mixed-Mode Loading Based on Improved Gaussian Process

Abstract

This paper proposes an approach to predicting fatigue crack growth under mixed-mode loading based on improved Gaussian process. In terms of analyzing the theoretical background for fatigue crack growth, a corresponding finite element model is built to generate sufficient simulation data, which is utilized to obtain the key parameters (e.g., stress intensity factor) for the fatigue crack growth process. And then, a Gaussian process model is achieved to meet the condition that the stress intensity factor is a nonlinear continuous change in crack growth, especially for mixed-mode loading. Following, an idea of local sample densification method is implemented to improve Gaussian sample generation process according to the simplified model of the crack growth path. Based on the above investigation, a fatigue crack growth prediction model using the improved Gaussian process is finished, which is subsequently verified through the test data of lower bainite steel (SCM435) material. The results show that the proposed approach has better computational accuracy and efficiency than the traditional finite element method in predicting fatigue crack growth under mixed-mode loading.