(1987) A New Definition of The Rainflow Cycle Counting Method
(1987) A New Definition of The Rainflow Cycle Counting Method
(1987) A New Definition of The Rainflow Cycle Counting Method
A new equivalent definition of the rainflow cycle counting method is presented, which
expresses the rainflow cycle amplitudes in explicit analytical formulae. The method
attaches to each maximum of the strain function the amplitude of a corresponding
cycle or two half cycles, which are evaluated independently from each other. This
definition is more convenient for the statistical analysis of rainflow cycle amplitudes
for a random loading process.
Key words: fatigue; rainflow counting; toplevel-up counting; cycle amplitude; random
loading
3 ~- i 9
1
6
8
Time
-T +T
I I t I I I I
to tl t2 t3 t4 Time Fig. 4 Illustrations of the half cycle counting procedure by definition
2:11
Strain
H- (t I ) f
--T
III
t3 t2
I I I I
t31 =t2_1 ~ =t1_1 t I =t_l
t~
Y to
to
I
T
I_r
Time
120 Int J F a t i g u e A p r i l 1 9 8 7
a cycle has been determined, the maximum and minimum
associated with it can be eliminated from further analysis.
y (s), strain history Consequently, a cycle defines uniquely a pair of maximum
and minimum values which are its highest and lowest points,
k what we have extensively used in the definition of the
TUC method.
Since the TUC procedure, which is equivalent to RFC
method, can be started at any maximum, let the RFC
algorithm start at a local maximum at time, say t. By
Definition 2:1, the rainflow initiated at t has a range H+(t).
Next, we change the time direction and start a (new) rainfiow
)_ from the same maximum. The range of this path is H-(t).
s, Time Now, if the maximum is a highest point of a cycle (closed
hysteresis loop), the amplitude of this cycle is min(H-(t),
Fig. 6 Illustration of a strain function in which a minimum is the H+(t)) by the TUC method. So the TUC procedure can
lowest point of two cycles be seen as a stationary (independent of the starting point)
and time-invariant RFC procedure.
We begin with a maximum such that H+(t) >1 H-(t), Finally, note that the TUC procedure, which chooses
and t - > - T . Since t- > - T , there exists a maximum max(H-(t), H+(t)) as the amplitude of a cycle, cannot be
at time t*, say - T ~< t* < t - , such that the rain path equivalent to the RFC procedure since it is possible to have
started at t* drops down from the minimum at time t-1. a strain function with a minimum which is the lowest point
Since y(t*) > ),(t) and j(t_l) I> .Y(6), the rain path started of two cycles see Fig. 6.
at the maximum at t is stopped by the rain path started
at t*, and a half cycle with range H-(t) is counted. Observe
that all rain paths started at maxima in the interval (t-,
Acknowledgements
t) are stopped before or at time t, and the rain path started The author is indebted to Professor Georg Lindgren for
at t* cannot be stopped before the time t +. discussion and valuable comments.
Next, the rain path started at a minimum at t-1 is
stopped in the interval (6 tO, giving a half cycle with range
H-(t), and the RFC procedure counts a cycle with amplitude References
H(t) = min(H-(t), H+ (t)). 1. Matsuishi, M. end Endo, T. 'Fatigue of metals subjected
We turn now to a maximum such that H-(t) > H+(t) to varying stress' Paper presented to Japan Soc Mech Engrs
and t < T. The rain path started at t is stopped at t +, (Jukvoka, Japan, 1968)
giving a half cycle with range H + (t). Furthermore, the rain 2. Dowling, N. E. 'Fatigue predictions for complicated stress-
path started at a minimum at time tl will be stopped by strain histories" J Mater1 (1972) pp 71-87
the rainflow dropping down from the maximum at t, giving 3. Downing, S. D. and Socie, D. F. 'Simple rainflow counting
a half cycle with the range H+(t), and a full cycle with algorithms" IntJ Fatigue4 No 1 (January 1982) pp 31--40
amplitude H(t) = min(H-(t), H+(t)) is counted. 4. Okamura, H., Sakai, S. and Susuki, I. 'Cumulative fatigue
damage u nder random loads" Fatigue Engng Mater and Struct
1 (1979) pp 409-419
Remarks 5. Socia, D. F. "Fatigue-life prediction using local stress/strain
concepts' Exptl Mech 17 No 2 (1977) pp 50-56
We finish with some remarks about the relationship between
the RFC and TUC methods. 6. Lindgren, G. and Rychlik, I. 'Rain flow cycle distributions
for fatigue life prediction under Gaussian load processes' Star
The RFC procedure has a complicated 'sequential' struc- Res Rep (University of Lund, Sweden, 1986) pp 1-17 to
ture, and the amplitude of the cycles and half cycles can appear in Fatigue Engng Mater and Struct
depend on the order in which one initiates the rainflows. 7. Rychlik, I. 'Rain flow cycle distribution for a stationary
Usually, rainflows begin successively from the first extremum Gaussian load process" Stat Res Rep 1986:4 (University of
of the strain function. However, they can also be initiated Lund, Sweden, 1986) pp 1-36
from the last extremum, changing the time direction, and 8. Collins, J. A. Failure of Materials in Mechanical Design
the same cycles and half cycles will be obtained. Thus the (Wiley Interscience, New York, NY, USA, 1981 ) pp 282-285
RFC method is time invariant.
The sequential structure of the RFC method is caused Author
by the fact that it must keep track of those extremes which Dr Rychlik is with the Department of Mathematical Statistics,
have not yet formed a cycle (closed hysteresis loop). Once University of Lund, Box 118, S-221 00 Lund, Sweden.