Patent ID: 9541530
Date: 2017-01-10
CPC Classifications: G01N,G06F

Claim:
1. A method for a computing machine to perform fatigue life prediction, the method comprising: calculating a critical crack size of an object of interest, the object being a turbine; identifying, by a data processor, a first flaw in the object from ultrasound data of the object of interest in non-destructive evaluation, the first flaw being a crack in the object and the ultrasound data acquired using a non-destructive evaluation probe; determining that the first flaw interacts with a second flaw, the first flaw is to be merged with the second flaw, or the first flaw is isolated; calculating an initial crack size based on the determination; calculating by a fatigue prediction module of a non-destructive evaluation system, an increase in the initial crack size in the object due to fatigue and creep; determining, by the fatigue prediction module of the non-destructive evaluation system, a number of load cycles until the initial crack size reaches the critical crack size of the object, wherein the initial crack size is calculated using the following equations: wherein a determining a fatigue life of the turbine based on the number of load cycles; and performing maintenance of the turbine at a service interval based on the fatigue life of the turbine.