Fatigue lifetime estimation of bearing pin of console manipulator loaded with multiaxial random loading

Fatigue lifetime estimation of load bearing parts of construction is a key factor in a design of technique used for long term operation. Complex loading in combination with complex geometry of the most loaded parts represents only one of many problems that engineers have to deal with. One of the most commonly used approaches how to deal with this problem is to use the technical standards. This approach, despite its indisputable advantages (clear and comprehensible steps of calculation), has several significant shortcomings (non-economical oversized design). In this paper we propose procedure of how to estimate fatigue lifetime of construction parts that are loaded with random operational loading. The result of proposed procedure is distribution function of fatigue lifetime which takes into account the complex geometry of the designed part and random character of the complex loading (multiaxial stress state) in a hotspot. This approach is then demonstrated on fatigue lifetime estimation of bearing pin of a console manipulator loaded by random operational loading. Loading process was obtained using set of strain gages. The measured loading process was then transformed into stress histories in critical hotspot using FEM. Method of processing the stress loading histories in critical hotspot into a form usable in combination with hypotheses for fatigue damage calculation under multiaxial stress states is presented.