Modelling the dependency of the Smith–Watson–Topper parameter on the cycles‐to‐failure using serial hybrid neural networks

Calculating the fatigue damage with a strain‐based approach requires an ?–N durability curve that links the strain amplitude to the corresponding number of cycles‐to‐failure. This ?–N curve is usually modelled by the Coffin–Manson relationship. If a loading mean‐level also needs to be considered, the original Coffin–Manson relationship is modified using a Smith–Watson–Topper parameter. In this article a methodology for modelling the dependence of the Smith–Watson–Topper parameter on the number of cycles‐to‐failure is presented. The core of the presented methodology represents a multilayer perceptron neural network combined with the Smith–Watson–Topper analytical model. The article presents the theoretical background of the methodology, which is applied for the case of the experimental fatigue data. The results show that it is possible to model ?–N curves for different influential parameters, such as the specimen's diameter and the testing temperature. The results further show that it is possible to predict ?–N curves even for those combinations of the influential parameters for which no experimental data about the material endurance is available. This fact makes the presented model very suitable for the application in an R&D process when a durability of a product should be estimated on the basis of a very limited set of experimental data about the material endurance characteristics.