Classification of Load Sequence Effects in Metallic Structures

Due to the summation rule for the relative consumed fatigue life the basic property of linear damage accumulation is the independence of the calculation results from the sequence of occurrence of the cycles. In the physical fatigue damage accumulation the sequence of the occurrence of individual cycles indeed plays an important role. The material and the structure, respectively, have the ability to store information on prior loading histories. A classification of physical phenomena was undertaken. Two main groups of information storage possibilities have been identified: material's plastic deformation and irreversible material separation processes.