Probabilistic model of fatigue crack propagation and estimation of probability-confidence bounded a-N curves.

The fatigue crack growth model is expressed as a function of mechanical properties. The uncertainties associated with the crack growth process are incorporated assuming them as random variable following a statistical distribution. The effect of material nonhomogeneity is included in the model through a random process parameter of Gaussian type. Assuming fatigue life as a random variable, probabilityconfidence bounded mean crack growth relation is developed and an algorithm is presented. The model is validated through the experimental and predicted results from several data sets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]