Reliability-based reassessment of corrosion fatigue life

A reliability-based evaluation approach for pitting corrosion fatigue damage which combines analytical estimation and nondestructive inspection is developed in this paper. First, a mechanics-based probabilistic life model for the corrosion fatigue on the surface of a lap sheet is established and then a reassessment approach is developed after in-service inspection. The reliability of the NDI technique is quantified through a probabilistic description of its detectability and accuracy. The reassessment approach incorporates the reliability of the NDI technique, inspection data and prior prediction in a probabilistic framework for decisions regarding maintenance or repair. The methodology is illustrated through a numerical example and the effect of the reliability of the NDI technique on reassessment results is investigated.