Fatigue life estimation of components with use a non-linear energy model coupled a finite element method

The work presents a non-linear fatigue computation method together with finite element method, in which energy parameter has been used. The Proposed model has been used for simulation computations, based on experimental testing of Al-2024 aluminum alloy specimens subjected to two types of loads, i.e. variable blocs loading and random loading. Computations of energy parameter value have been donebased on the results of FEM elastic–plastic analysis of cyclic properties of a material. A computing Matlab-based algorithm of the fatigue life prediction methodology was developed. The proposed damage indicator is connected cycle by cycle to the Wöhler curve. Cycles were counted with the rain-flow algorithm, and damage was accumulated with this model and with the Palmgren–Miner rule. On the grounds of which fatigue life has been read off from only characteristics of specimens. An experimental verification shows a satisfactory agreement between the fatigue life calculation results by the proposed methodology and test results. Estimated and experimental lives are found to exhibit good agreement