Probability that the propagation of an undetected fatigue crack will not cause a structural failure / J. R. Gebman, P. C. Paris.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Gebman, J. R.

Contributor:

Paris, P. C. (Paul Croce), 1930- joint author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Metals--Fatigue.

Metals.

Metals--Fracture.

Probabilities.

Physical Description:

xvi, 68 pages : graphs

Place of Publication:

Santa Monica, CA, Rand, 1978

Summary:

The undetected propagation of a fatigue crack constitutes a significant cause of aircraft and other structural failures. To raise the structural failure load to a relatively high level, the manufacturer can divide the structure into many small elements, which significantly increases the ability of a structure to tolerate an element failure. This report presents a procedure for calculating the probability that the element has not failed, as a function of the crack propagation time and hence the crack's length. The procedure's form is so simple that computations with a desk calculator can yield reasonably accurate results. To illustrate this, the report uses data that an aircraft manufacturer developed for the structural components/elements that currently limit the service life of an existing transport aircraft.