UNDER RAPID THERMAL LOADING

FRACTURE MECHANICS LIFE PREDICTIONS REQUIRE THE DETERMINATION OF CRACK TIP STRESS INTENSITY FACTORS FOR USE IN STRUCTURAL RELIABILITY ASSESSMENTS. STRESSES IN METALLIC COMPONENTS RESULTING FROM RAPID THERMAL PULSING CAN BE HIGHLY COMPLEX AND SEVERE STRESS GRADIENTS OF A TENSILE AND COMPRESSIVE NATURE WILL OCCUR. IT IS PROPOSED HEREIN THAT A WEIGHT OR INFLUENCE FUNCTION METHOD BE DEVELOPED BECAUSE OF ITS EFFICIENCY TO SOLVE SUCH PROBLEMS. THE USE OF INFLUENCE FUNCTIONS WILL AVOID THE UNNECESSARY DISSIPATION OF RESOURCES WHEN REPETITIVE STRESS INTENSITY FACTOR CALCULATIONS ARE REQUIRED, SUCH AS IN FATIGUE CRACK GROWTH ANALYSES OR IN MONTE CARLO SIMULATIONS. A MAJOR BENEFIT OF THIS PROJECT WILL BE A COMPUTER PROGRAM THAT WILL EXECUTE ON A DESKTOP MICROCOMPUTER SO THAT THE TECHNIQUE CAN BE EASILY USED BY ENGINEERS.