Probability That the Propagation of an Undetected Fatigue Crack Will Not Cause a Structural Failure

Jean R. Gebman, P. C. Paris

ResearchPublished 1978

The undetected propagation of a fatigue crack constitutes a significant cause of aircraft and other structural failures. To raise the structural failure load to a relatively high level, the manufacturer can divide the structure into many small elements, which significantly increases the ability of a structure to tolerate an element failure. This report presents a procedure for calculating the probability that the element has not failed, as a function of the crack propagation time and hence the crack's length. The procedure's form is so simple that computations with a desk calculator can yield reasonably accurate results. To illustrate this, the report uses data that an aircraft manufacturer developed for the structural components/elements that currently limit the service life of an existing transport aircraft.

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  • Copyright: RAND Corporation
  • Availability: Available
  • Year: 1978
  • Print Format: Paperback
  • Paperback Pages: 84
  • Paperback Price: $25.00
  • Document Number: R-2238-RC

Citation

RAND Style Manual
Gebman, Jean R. and P. C. Paris, Probability That the Propagation of an Undetected Fatigue Crack Will Not Cause a Structural Failure, RAND Corporation, R-2238-RC, 1978. As of October 10, 2024: https://www.rand.org/pubs/reports/R2238.html
Chicago Manual of Style
Gebman, Jean R. and P. C. Paris, Probability That the Propagation of an Undetected Fatigue Crack Will Not Cause a Structural Failure. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 1978. https://www.rand.org/pubs/reports/R2238.html. Also available in print form.
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