Random Response Fatigue Analysis
The study of fatigue life of structures under random loading.
Power Spectral Density (PSD) results from the random response analysis are used to calculate Moments mnmn that are used to generate the probability density function for the number of cycles versus the stress range.
The PSD Moments are calculated based on the PSD stresses generated from the random response analysis.
Power Spectral Density (PSD) Moments

Moments are calculated based on:
- fkfk
- Frequency value.
- GkGk
- PSD response value at frequency fkfk .
Calculate Probability of Stress Range Occurence
Calculation of the probability of occurrence of a stress range between the initial and final stress range values within each bin section are user-defined.
The probability P(ΔSi)P(ΔSi) of a stress range occuring between (ΔSi − δS/2)(ΔSi−δS/2) and (ΔSi + δS/2)(ΔSi+δS/2) is:
Probability Density Function (Probability Density of Number of Cycles Versus Stress Range)
PSD Moments calculated as shown above are used in the generation of a Probability Density Function f(mn)f(mn) for the stress range. The function is based on the specified damage model. DIRLIK, LALANNE, NARROW, and Steinberg 3 band (THREE) options are available to define the damage model.
- DIRLIK
- DIRLIK postulated a closed form solution to the determination of the
Probability Density Function as:p(S) = D1Qe−ZQ + D2ZR2e−Z22R2 + D3Ze−Z222√m0p(S)=D1Qe−ZQ+D2ZR2e−Z22R2+D3Ze−Z222√m0
- LALANNE
- The LALANNE random fatigue damage model depicts the probability density
function as:p(S) = 1√m0 √1 − γ2√2πe−S28m0(1 − γ2) + Sγ4√m0(1 + erf(Sγ2√2m0(1 − γ2)))p(S)=1√m0√1−γ2√2πe−S28m0(1−γ2)+Sγ4√m0(1+erf(Sγ2√2m0(1−γ2)))
- NARROW
- The Narrow Band random fatigue damage model uses the following
probability functions:p(S) = (S4m0e−(S28m0))p(S)=(S4m0e−(S28m0))
- THREE
- The Steinberg 3-band random fatigue damage model uses the following
probability function:P(S) = {0.683 at 2√m00.271 at 4√m00.043 at 6√m0
Upper Stress Range Factor
Calculates the upper limit of the stress range as:
upper limit of the stress range = 2*RMS Stress*Upper Stress Range factor
The RMS Stress is output from random response subcase. The stress ranges of interest are limited by the upper limit of the stress range. Any stresses beyond the upper limit are not considered in random fatigue damage calculations.
Upper Stress Range
Directly specify the upper stress range.
Number of Bins
Calculates the width of the stress range DS = δS for which the probability is calculated (see Figure 2). The default is 100 and the first bin starts from 0.0 to δS . The width of the stress range is calculated as DS=Upper stress range/Number of bins.
Stress Range Width
Directly defines the width of the stress ranges ( δS ).
Calculate Probability of Stress Range Occurence
- DIRLIK, LALANNE, NARROW
- The probability
P(Si)
of a stress range occuring between
(ΔSi − δS/2)
and
(ΔSi + δS/2)
is: P(Si) = pi(Si)δS
Select Damage Models
- The PSD moments of stress are used to calculated corresponding moments, which are used to determine the probability density function for the stress-range.
- DIRLIK and LALANNE models generate probabilities across a wider distribution of the stress-range spectrum. Therefore, these models should be used when the input random signal consists of a variety of stress-ranges across multiple frequencies. The information in the probability density function better captures the wider range in stress-range distribution if DIRLIK and LALANNE are used.
- The NARROW model is intended for random signals for which the stress range is expected to be closely associated with a high probability of particular stress range distribution. Therefore, if you know the input random data does not have a wide range of stress-range distribution, and the distribution is mainly concentrated about a particular stress range, you should select NARROW. This model expects the highest probability of stress-ranges to lie at or around this particular stress range.
- The THREE model is like the NARROW model, except it expects the distribution of the random signal to contain, in addition to the association with 1*RMS, associations (albeit smaller) with 2*RMS, and 3*RMS. Therefore, if your input random data is mainly clustered around stress ranges in 1*RMS, and to a lesser extent, 2*RMS, and 3*RMS, then you should select THREE.
Number of Peaks and Zero Crossings
- NARROW, THREE
- The number of zero crossings per second in the original time-domain
random loading (from which the frequency based random PSD load is
generated) is determined as:nzcross = √m2m0Where,
- mn
- Corresponding moments calculated.
- DIRLIK, LALANNE
- The number of peaks per second in the original time-domain random
loading (from which the frequency based random PSD load is generated) is
determined as:npeaks = √m4m2Where,
- mn
- Corresponding moments calculated.
Number of Cycles
- NARROW band, THREE band
- The total number of cycles is calculated as:NT = nzcrossTWhere,
- T
- Total exposure time.
- DIRLIK, LALANNE
- The total number of cycles is calculated as:NT = npeaksTWhere,
- T
- Total exposure time.
- Total Number of Cycles of Particular Stress Range
- The total number of cycles with with stress range
ΔSi
is calculated as:Ni = P(ΔSi)NT
Fatigue Life and Damage
Fatigue life (maximum number of cycles of a particular stress range Si for the material prior to failure) is calculated based on the Material SN curve as:
Total fatigue damage as a result of the applied random loading is calculated as:
To account for the mean stress correction with any loading that leads to a mean stress different from zero, you can define a static subcase that consists of such loading (typically gravity loads). This static subcase can be referenced in random fatigue analysis event setup.