A stochastic theory of cumulative fatigue damage

A stochastic theory for the cumulative fatigue damage of structural components with random fatigue strength under random loading is proposed on the basis of Stratonovich-Khasminskii theorem. The analytical solutions for the probability densities of the cumulative fatigue damage and fatigue life and for the reliability function are given for steel and reinforced concrete components with constant fatigue strength subject to a narrow band stationary Gaussian stress process with zero mean. The results agree very well with those of digital simulation. It is noted that the theory can be applied, in principle, to both metallic and non-metallic materials, narrow band and wide band stress process, and adapted to a sequence ofn, stationary stress processes or quasi-stationary stress process. The scatter and degradation of fatigue strength and the inspection maintenance can also be incorporated into the theory.