A probability model for initial crack size and fatigue life of gun barrels

F. Proschan and J. Sethuraman

Naval Research Logistics Quarterly, 1978, vol. 25, issue 2, 273-277

Abstract: With constant firing, metal fatigue produces cracks in a gun barrel. The useful life of the barrel comes to an end when a crack develops to a critical size. The theory of Fracture Mechanics suggests a formula for crack size growth rate. This formula can be used to determine the life of a barrel, depending on the initial and critical crack sizes and other factors. The initial crack size turns out to be a dominant factor. Unfortunately, accurate measurements are not generally available on the initial crack size. In this paper, we propose a simple probability model for the initial crack size and this, in turn, leads to a probability distribution of the life of the barrel. This last distribution is the well‐known exponential distribution with a location shift. The simplicity of this final result is one of the factors that make the model appealing.

Date: 1978
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:wly:navlog:v:25:y:1978:i:2:p:273-277

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