This paper presents an innovative methodology for predicting the remaining crack growth life, To simulate the true load history effect, the present paper investigates the effect of various load sequences and the crack closure model is used to consider the residual stress effect during fatigue crack growth. The stress-intensity factor, which is computed by a comprehensive finite element computer code, ABAQUS, is corrected to an effective stress intensity factor when the crack closure model is considered. Using the Paris equation, the fatigue crack growth rate under different load sequences can be calculated. The crack growth coefficient in the Paris equation, C, obtained from usually constant amplitude fatigue tests in which residual stress effects are not included, has to be modified to C0 with the crack closure model using the present method. Also, the predicted results are compared with the experimental fatigue test results. The methodology has been proven to be very efficient and accurate.
