Statistical Analysis of the Low Cycle Fatigue Crack Propagation and a Reliability Model for a Welded Joint
Y. Chen  T. J.ahng  G. X .Cheng
(1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University 710048)
(2.Department of Engineering Mechanics, Xi'an Jiaotong University 710048)

Abstract: Low cycle fatigue (LCF) experiments were carried out for a pressure vessel steel
16MnR, its weld heat affected zone (HAZ) and weld metal, respectively. The LCF crack propagation behavior in the above mentioned zones was statistically analyzed and a probabilistic LCF crack propagation model was proposed. Moreover, the well known Monte Carlo method was used to calculate the distributions of the LCF crack propagation life of the base metal,weld metal and HAZ,respectively. Finally, a reliability model was proposed for the welded joint.
Keywords: low cycle fatigue, reliability, welded joint, crack propagation, fatigure life.