FatigaRFC is a software tool for Rainflow Counting. To use data from load-time histories in fatigue analysis, cycles need to be extracted from that history. FatigaRFC will do this job.
Description
Load-time histories acting on structures are often irregular, i.e. it is a so-called variable amplitude spectrum. To perform a fatigue analysis it is required that such a history is translated to cycles: number of occurrences, stress amplitude and mean stress level.
The method of extracting cycles giving the most realistic results is the Rainflow Counting method since it combines the highest peaks and lowest valleys in a spectrum with each other.
The method of extracting cycles giving the most realistic results is the Rainflow Counting method since it combines the highest peaks and lowest valleys in a spectrum with each other.
Customized Version
If you are interested in a customised version of FatigaRFC, please contact us to discuss your needs and requirements.
Support
Installation and Activation
After purchasing FatigaRFC you will receive a link to a .zip file. Open this file and copy the executable to a folder of your choice.
When you execute FatigaRFC for the first time you will be asked for a license code. This license code will be send to you in a separate email.
How the tool works
Below a description is given how to work with the software. For more specific question please contact us.
- Open File
- Click the Open button to open a sequence file.
- The file should be an ASCII file.
- More than 1 load level per line is allowed.
- Empty lines are not allowed.
- Filter Size
- Ranges smaller than the filter size will not be counted.
- Normalize Spectrum
- By checking this option the load cycles will be normalized such that the highest peak equals 1.
- All other cycles will be scaled with the same factor as the highest peak.
- Use Load Bins
- By checking this option load bins are used.
- Following matrices are available: 32×32, 64×64 and 100×100.
- The highest peak and the lowest valley define the mean values of the highest and lowest bin. This way the largest load range will have the value equal to the difference between the highest peak and the lowest valley.
- Leaving this option unchecked means that the actual stress ranges will be counted. However, this option does not work for very large sequences.
- Residue Handling
- The software offers two ways to handle residues:
a. Decomposition of the residue into cycles (ref. 1). This way no half cycles will remain.
b. Ignoring the downward cycles and consider the upward half cycles as full cycles.
- The software offers two ways to handle residues:
- Execute
- Click the Execute button the perform the Rainflow Counting analysis.
- The analysis starts with Peak-Valley-Peak filtering, leaving only the turning points in the sequences and thus reducing the data.
- After PVP filtering, the actual Rainflow Counting analysis is performed using the input parameters given before.
- If a residue remains, it will be handled according to the user preferences.
- Results
- After the Rainflow Counting analysis is performed the results, together with some spectrum characteristics, are presented in the results window.
- About & Help
- In this section a link to this support page is given.
References
- Amzailag, C., Gerey, J.P., Robert, J.L., Bahuaud, J., Standardization of the Rainflow Count Method, Fatigue, 1994, Vol. 16.