Computational method for evaluating the fatigue life of mechanical joints

Difficulty in the fatigue design of fastener is due to contact, friction, plasticity, fretting, wear and tear, etc. Combination of these factors often excludes the use of analytical methods. This paper shows that strategies may be determined nowadays based on the modern computational techniques and the advanced crack growth models to analyse fatigue crack initiation and propagation even when friction, contact, interference fitting, fretting, and plasticity are involved. With a probabilistic solution, effects of multiple site damage and environmental attacks may also be addressed for various joints using conventional as well as advanced fastener systems.