Quantitative thermographic method for fatigue life prediction under variable amplitude loading

Abstract

Quantitative thermographic methodology (QTM), which takes energy dissipation as a fatigue indicator, has been successfully applied to predict the fatigue life of materials and welded joints under constant amplitude loading. This study advances the QTM approach for predicting the fatigue life under variable amplitude loading in both low and high cycle fatigue regimes. Experimental data, obtained by fatigue tests under variable amplitude loading, were used in order to apply the developed QTM approach and to demonstrate that it is able to take into account the loading sequence effect. Good predictions of the fatigue life were achieved.