There have been major advances in methods of fatigue life estimation over the past 30 years. Allowable stresses can now be estimated to an accuracy of a few percent. Much of this knowledge is available in research papers but is not readily available to designers. This new publication is intended to bridge the gap between research and design by providing a concise introduction to modern methods of fatigue analysis as well as the more traditional methods.

The contents have been developed as course notes for training courses presented in Europe, North America and Asia to engineers who need to apply fatigue knowledge in engineering design, fatigue testing and failure investigation. The book will also be of value to academics and undergraduates on mechanical engineering courses.

The book assumes no prior knowledge of metal fatigue. It introduces the concepts of strain-based fatigue analysis and the more traditional S-N curve methods. Modern theories of multiaxial fatigue are described, together with their application to strain gauge measurements and fatigue analysis of finite element models. There are chapters on statistical analysis, crack propagation, and fatigue of welded steel joints. The final chapters discuss the merits and disadvantages of different types of fatigue tests, and aspects of practical fatigue analysis. Throughout the book the emphasis is on practical application.

John Draper worked as a fatigue design specialist in the aircraft industry, then as a project manager in British Rail R&D Division for fatigue research projects, and failure investigation projects using service strain measurement. He formed Safe Technology Limited in 1987 to develop fatigue analysis software from strain gauges and FE models, and provide fatigue –related consultancy services. He has supervised SMART award projects and teaching company schemes in fatigue. He acts as a consultant to companies in a wide range of industries, including ground vehicles, medical equipment, diesel engines, wind energy and welded fabrications. He is a regularly invited presenter at conferences in the UK, Europe, Asia and the USA.

He is Chairman of Safe Technology Limited, past Chairman of the Engineering Integrity Society and the Ground Vehicle Instrumentation Group, and an Honorary Visiting Professor to Sheffield Hallam University.

Professor Andrew Sherry Director, Materials Performance Centre, and Director, Nuclear EngD Centre University of Manchester, UK, commented:
"John Draper’s book Modern Metal Fatigue provides a highly readable and comprehensive introduction to the study of fatigue behaviour of metals and alloys for students, a description of the details of fatigue assessment methods for the design engineer, and includes a level of detail that expert practitioners will find useful. The book opens with a general description of the key elements of fatigue crack initiation and propagation under cyclic loading. With clear figures, a clarity of description, and many practical examples, the book outlines the material response to simple and complex cyclic loading.

Modern Metal Fatigue opens with an overview of hysteresis, stress concentration and crack closure. Fatigue test methods are described and engineering approaches for the assessment of fatigue are presented. This includes a summary of data requirements, a description of the rainfall method, and an overview of stress concentration factors for notches. The tools available to the design and structural integrity engineer for considering fatigue under uniaxial, biaxial and triaxial stress states are described, including simple engineering approaches on the one hand and more complex finite element analysis on the other. A description of the treatment fatigue crack growth is also provided with characteristic clarity. This incorporates an overview of the principles of linear elastic fracture mechanics including an overview of the meaning and application of the stress intensity factor.

Finally Modern Metal Fatigue addresses issues relating to the statistical analysis of fatigue behaviour, issues associated with the analysis of welds (including residual stresses), the use of the power spectral density diagram (auto-spectral density), and the concept of cumulative damage. The book includes an appendix describing the Verity® mesh-insensitive structural stress method for fatigue analysis of welded joints.

John Draper has succeeded in providing a comprehensive, readable and clear scientific textbook on fatigue and fatigue assessment that materials science and engineering students, design engineers and structural integrity practitioners will find extremely useful."

To order copies: www.emas.co.uk/structural_integrity-ModernMetalFatigueAnalysis.html