Estimation of Fatigue Crack Growth using Gamma Process Model

The physical nature of fatigue shows the considerable amount of scatter from intrinsic and extrinsic factors. In this study, some degradation models, such as the gamma process model, were reviewed in terms of uncertainties associated with the continuous, gradual, and monotonic nature of fatigue crack growth. Statistically varying fatigue crack growth data obtained from Lu and Meeker were used as an example to demonstrate the use of the gamma process model. This model can describe the condition and lifetime as statistical distribution curves whose shapes vary with cycles. From the skewness of the statistical distribution curves, it was confirmed that the median is suitable for being considered as the expected life. The use of the gamma process model enables the optimum replacement period and percentile life to be employed as criteria for preventive maintenance policy