Development of a method base and a factual data base for a fatigue life estimation

Abstract
A lot of characteristic lines to describe the fatigue strength and the occuring loads (derived from experimental and measurement results) can be stored and managed in progressive computer systems and then worked up to programs for a fatigue life estimation. The report shows how to build up a factual data base in a way that enables to store and manage important dates in a consistent form, which is necessary for a fail-safe design. Besides the results, that have been determined from test elements, the factual data base contains values, which have been determined from real technical components under operational conditions. Furthermore a method base has been developed to combine the existing methods of fatigue life estimation in a way, that enables an assessment of fatigue life in different development stages of technical components. Therefore methods have been developed which, beginning with a concrete problem, search the correct dates in the factual data base and adjust the selected char acteristic lines or values at real conditions of the individual structural component.