Fatigue evaluation of high‐loaded aeronautical composite structures

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a study on effective methods for fatigue evaluation of composite structures.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on topological correspondence between half‐cycle arrays and the Haig diagrams, the fatigue data for composite structure in the form of array containing numbers of half‐cycles to failure (or in form of unitary damage array) are obtained. Such forms of the fatigue data facilitate significantly calculation of damage produced by any load spectrum (LS), presented as a half‐cycle array.

Findings

The loads of highest increments inside the operational range are of crucial importance for the fatigue life of composite structures, therefore it is possible to replace the whole LS with the equivalent loads of significantly reduced cycle numbers, which is very beneficial in the case when the fatigue life evidence is provided in the experimental way.

Originality/value

The paper presents novel evaluation methods for equivalent load cycles determination, consisting in application of unitary damage array, and simplified estimation procedure of fatigue properties on experimental basis.

Citation

Rodzewicz, M. (2009), "Fatigue evaluation of high‐loaded aeronautical composite structures", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 81 No. 5, pp. 452-460. https://doi.org/10.1108/00022660910983743