Application of continuum damage mechanics to vibration fatigue life prediction

It is pivotal to predict the multiaxial vibration fatigue life during mechanical structural dynamics design. An algorithm of the finite element method implementation for multiaxial high cycle fatigue life evaluation is proposed, on the basis of elastic evolution model of continuum damage mechanics. By considering structural dynamic characteristics, namely, resonant frequencies and mode shapes, this algorithm includes a modal analysis and harmonic analysis, which makes this different from existing fatigue life prediction methods. A 10% decrease in the resonant frequency is regarded as the failure criterion. A critical damage value was obtained, which indicates mesocrack initiation fulfilment. To validate the effectiveness of the algorithm, auto‐phase sine resonance track‐and‐dwell experiments were conducted on notched cantilever beams made of Ti‐6Al‐4V alloy. The life predictions are conservative and in good agreements with the experimental results, which are mainly distributed within a scatter band of 2. This investigation could provide technical support for structural dynamics design and the analysis of reusable spacecraft.