Monitoring of Initiation and Propagation of Fatigue Crack by Field Signature Method

Abstract

Considering Field Signature Method (called as FSM hereinafter) to apply for monitoring initiation and propagation of fatigue crack under load, the applicability of FSM was investigated by a series of experiments. Initiation of fatigue crack under 1(mm) at the toe of welds could be detected by FSM. Moreover, propagation of the very small fatigue crack in the bridge member could be detected under the repeated loads. It was found that initiation and propagation of fatigue crack in the bridge member could be accurately monitored under live loads by FSM.