Fatigue life prediction based on natural frequency changes for spot welds under random loading

Fatigue tests were carried out on tensile-shear spot-welded specimens under random loading; at the same time, natural frequencies at different life stages were measured. Test results were compared with that under constant amplitude loading. The relationship between damage and natural frequency change ratio established under constant amplitude loading is here modified. The nonlinear damage evolution equation was established using the damage represented by frequency change for spot welds. The fatigue life of spot welds under random loading was predicted with this damage evolution relationship using the rainflow counting method results, as well as other life prediction methods with different counting methods. Comparison of life prediction results showed that the method using changes of natural frequency can be an on-line approach and the predicted lives have a good agreement with the experimental data.