Nonlinear response with snap-through and fatigue life prediction for panels to thermo-acoustic loadings

Abstract

Thin-walled structures under thermo-acoustic loadings exhibit a complex nonlinear response which results in high cycle fatigue failure. The aim of the present paper is to analyze the influences of thermal-acoustic excitations on nonlinear dynamics response, and then give the corresponding multi-axial fatigue life estimation. The nonlinear responses of a clamped aluminum plate (2024-T3) under different thermal-acoustic loadings are firstly obtained, which include the response of the plate in pre/post buckled conditions and in snap-through conditions. Then the statistical properties with different temperatures and sound pressure levels are analyzed for further research on nonlinear response dynamics. Based on the thermo-acoustic response obtained, the rain flow matrix scheme is used to determine the distribution of fatigue cycles. Then the Miner accumulative damage model is employed to predict high cycle fatigue life, combined with a non-zero mean stress model. Results show that the fatigue life of a pre-buckled plate decreases with the increase of temperature. For a post-buckled plate, as the temperature increases, the fatigue life of the plate undergoing persistent snap-through keeps decreasing to the lowest point, and then increases after entering an intermittent snap-through regime.