METHOD OF FORECASTING THE LIFETIME OF STRUCTURAL PARTS

摘要

A method is provided for determining the extent of cyclic stress fatigue suffered by a component comprising the steps of: (i) obtaining a gauge mater ial which undergoes a continued progressive/cumulative and quantifiable chan ge in at least one of its physical properties in response to repeated strain cycles applied to the gauge material, the quantifiable change being indicat ive of both degree of strain and number of cycles incurred during the repeat ed strain cycles; (ii) determining a correlation between an extent of the qu antifiable change in the gauge material and an effect on said component of a corresponding number and degree of strain cycles; (iii) affixing the gauge material to said component to subject the gauge material to any strain encou ntered by an adjacent portion of the component; (iv) at least periodically d etermining the extent of said quantifiable change to the gauge material to d etermine the extent of cyclic stress fatigue undergone by the component.