Fatigue life prediction software for engineering components

This paper presents the theoretical background of a software, developed in house, for prediction of fatigue life of engineering components. The software has three input modules i.e. component geometry, operating load history and material parameters which have been utilized in the linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) based fatigue life prediction scheme. Detailed discussion of these input modules are presented here as to illustrate the capabilities of the life prediction model in built to the software. Relevant examples are incorporated which have been analysed by the software to estimate the fatigue life. The effect of input parameters on the predicted life have been discussed. The predicted life was compared with the data obtained experimentally for laboratory specimen and the agreement was found to be good.