Fatigue life uncertainty prediction using the Monte Carlo and Latin hypercube sampling techniques under uniaxial and multiaxial cyclic loading

The estimation of uncertainty in fatigue life prediction is a decision-making factor in structural design. The problem is specific in the case of multiaxial loading owing to the complex process involved in life prediction. Numerical algorithms are often required to narrow our choice of uncertainty estimation to stochastic sampling. The Monte Carlo technique is often substituted by Latin hypercubes to reduce the computational cost. However, its effectiveness in the uncertainty of life prediction under multiaxial loading has not been validated. To bridge this gap, these two sampling techniques are tested and compared with the application of several stress-based models to the new results of the experimental test on 16Mo3 steel.