Peak-Distribution Effects in Random-Load Fatigue

This paper reports the effects of the stress-peak distribution upon the fatigue life of a certain type of test specimen excited to bending by Gaussian random vibrations. Approximately 200 specimens were tested using two different peak-distribution functions. The peak-distribution functions were produced by means of single- and two-degrees-of-freedom systems, respectively, excited by bands of random noise.

The root-mean-square (RMS) level of the strain and the average number of zero crossings were kept constant and equal in both tests. Statistical and physical interpretations of the test results are presented and discussed.