Cumulative Damage: Cycle Counting and Life Prediction

Loads so far analyzed were of constant amplitude. but constant amplitude loads represent a particularity that rarely happens in real life of components. Usually, cyclic loads have variable amplitudes that are referred to as the load spectrum or time history. This chapter addresses the huge and difficult issue of variable amplitude loads and provides the basic tools to analyze the fatigue strength of components subjected to whatsoever load spectrum. Impact fatigue is also treated.