Rapid determination of fatigue life based on temperature evolution

This paper presents an approach to rapidly predict high cycle fatigue life based on the temperature evolution of a specimen under cyclic loading. The initial slope of the temperature evolution was proved as an indicator for rapid estimation of fatigue life theoretically. Meanwhile, a real-time temperature measurement system based upon high-precision semiconductor temperature sensors was developed to detect the temperature evolution based upon high-precision semiconductor temperature sensors. In order to verify the presented approach, constant-amplitude fatigue tests were carried out on A7N01 aluminium alloy and the welded joints, respectively. The predicted fatigue life based on proposed approach was in good agreement with experimental results. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.