Fatigue Reliability Reassessment Procedures: State-of-the-Art Paper

Abstract

The need for reassessment of the fatigue life of existing structures is increasing as the world's infrastructure ages. A fatigue life reassessment typically begins with an assessment of the current condition of the structure. The condition assessment techniques range from visual inspection to X-ray inspection or detection of acoustic emissions. The fatigue reliability of the structure can be estimated from probabilistic fatigue life or fracture mechanics models. The data obtained from the condition assessment can be combined with these models to estimate the remaining service life of a structure using Bayes' theorem. Simulation techniques are often used to facilitate these calculations. If the remaining service life is inadequate, it may be desirable to repair the structure; however, repairs must be performed carefully to provide the desired benefit. On the other hand, economic factors may dictate a course of action other than repair, such as replacing the structure or changing the operation of the structure.