Nonlinear Response and Fatigue Life Prediction of Thin-Walled Structures under Thermo-Acoustic Loadings

Abstract

Thin-walled structures exhibit complex nonlinear response under thermo-acoustic loadings. Complex stress-strain states decrease the fatigue life of structures seriously. Based on the thermo-acoustic response obtained, the rain flow cycle counting scheme is used to calculate the number of fatigue cycles. Then the Miner accumulative damage model is employed to predict high cycle fatigue life, combined with various nonzero mean stress models, including Morrow TFS, SWT. The nonlinear response and fatigue life of 2024-T3 aluminum plate are obtained under different combinations of thermo-acoustic loadings. Results show that the fatigue life of pre-buckled plate decreases with the increase of temperature. For post-buckled plate, as the temperature increases, the fatigue life of plate undergoing persistent snap-through keeps going down till the lowest, and then increases after entering intermittent snap-through regime. At high temperatures, the influence of high temperature on the S-N curve must be considered, the results may be erroneous otherwise.