Improved extrapolation method for the fatigue damage of bus structural steel under service loading

This paper shows a technical study and analysis of the fatigue damage assessment of bus structural steel under service loading. Two bus prototypes (passenger-loaded and empty) are used in the experimental measurement for a typical city road. A deterministic analysis is performed for fatigue damage assessment and the remaining strength. These parameters are used for the construction of fatigue design curves, which can predict the designed fatigue life to failure. Results show a promising prediction that can be used for best practice in future design. To complete the investigation, this work also examined the different perspectives of system failure on the basis of the probability of fatigue life in the form of a distribution function. All results are satisfactory from the analysis perspective. However, design improvement should be addressed to achieve the target life