Probabilistic modeling of the size effect and scatter in High Cycle Fatigue using a Monte-Carlo approach: role of the defect population in cast aluminum alloys

In this study, a probabilistic model based on Monte-Carlo theory is applied to predict the fatigue behavior of cast aluminum alloys. The objective of the proposed approach is to investigate the effect of porosity (i.e. the defect size distribution and spatial density) on the fatigue strength and its associated scatter for uniaxial fatigue loads with the load ratio R = 0.1. The proposed model is applied to two cast aluminum alloys with very different defect characteristics. The results for these two alloys confirm that the model can be used to predict the average fatigue strength with a relative error