Reliability analysis of creep-fatigue failure

This paper proposes a probabilistic model for the reliability analysis of the creep and fatigue of materials. A new nonlinear creep-fatigue failure criterion function is introduced based on experimental data to facilitate analytical reliability approximations. This function is not restricted by any symmetry assumption used in current studies. A linear damage accumulation rule is used. The first-order reliability method and Monte Carlo simulation are used for probabilistic analysis. Uncertainties in creep and fatigue life of the material, creep and fatigue loading cycles, and limitation of test data are included. The sensitivity of creep-fatigue reliability to different random variables and their scatter, at different amounts of damage, is studied. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.