Strojniški vestnik - Journal of Mechanical Engineering 62(2016)1, 60-75 © 2016 Journal of Mechanical Engineering. All rights reserved. D0l:10.5545/sv-jme.2015.2905 Review Scientific Paper Received for review: 2015-07-23 Received revised form: 2015-11-10 Accepted for publication: 2015-12-10 A Review of the Extrapolation Method in Load Spectrum Compiling Jixin Wang* - Hongbin Chen - Yan Li - Yuqian Wu - Yingshuang Zhang Jilin University, School of Mechanical Science and Engineering, China Load spectrum is the basis of fatigue analysis and life prediction in engineering, and load extrapolation is an essential procedure in determining a long-term load spectrum from a short-term one. Selecting a proper extrapolation method is of great significance when considering various forms and characteristics of load. Over the past few decades, several load extrapolation methods have been proposed, therefore the reasonability and accuracy of a load spectrum extrapolated using different methods should be of great concern. This paper conducts a literature review of commonly used extrapolation methods and proposes some future areas of research. The critical factors, the advantages and disadvantages, and the application ranges of extrapolation methods are summarized using literature and illustrations to provide guidance when selecting a method. In the future, more methods and applications of extrapolation methods will be able to be explored with the further development of statistics and computer software technology. Keywords: short-term load spectrum, long-term load spectrum, load extrapolation, parametric extrapolation, nonparametric extrapolation, quantile extrapolation Highlights • This paper is focused on reviewing the commonly used extrapolation methods in load spectrum compiling in engineering; • The extrapolation methods are classified as the parametric extrapolation method, the nonparametric extrapolation method and the quantile extrapolation method; • Characteristics of each extrapolation method are summarized using literature and illustrations; • The guidance when selecting an extrapolation method and some research prospects in this field are proposed. 0 INTRODUCTION In engineering, many mechanical structures and components are subjected to complex and random loads, which determine the fatigue reliability and life of the machinery [1] and [2]. Thus, it is indispensable to conduct fatigue analysis and life prediction of the structures and components based on a load spectrum [3] and [4]. Currently, a load spectrum is widely used in the fields of aerospace [5] and [6], vehicle [7] and [8], wind power [9] and [10], construction machinery [11] and [12], and so on [13] and [14]. In practice, a long-term load spectrum contains the complete load information, but it is difficult to be directly measured due to the restrictions of testing technology, as well as time and cost. Therefore, it is necessary to obtain a long-term load spectrum based on a short-term one. The traditional load spectrum compiling method multiplies a short-term load spectrum with a constant proportionality coefficient [15] to [17]. Since only the data measured in a finite time is repeated, the extreme loads that cannot be measured and have a greater impact on damage are ignored. Load extrapolation methods can overcome the above limitation of the traditional method. With the development of statistics and computer software, new methods have been applied to load extrapolation. In load spectrum compiling, results may vary from each other with different extrapolation methods. Therefore, selecting an appropriate load extrapolation method is very important, but that is difficult in practice. For a better understanding of the methods and to provide selection guidance, several commonly used extrapolation methods are reviewed and summarized based on the literature and illustrations in this paper. The extrapolation methods are classified as the parametric extrapolation method (PE), nonparametric extrapolation method (NPE) and quantile extrapolation method (QE). In PE, sample data is supposed to obey a known distribution, and the parameters in the function are estimated according to the load sample. In NPE, an extrapolated result is obtained because the density distribution with an arbitrary shape can be received based on a nonparametric density estimation. When the sample data has different load characteristics due to different working conditions and different operating behaviors in the testing process, QE can break the data into a series of clusters and computes the damage of each rainflow matrix. The literature and illustrations are presented to evaluate the extrapolation methods and the characteristics of various extrapolation methods, such as the critical factors, the advantages and disadvantages, and the application ranges, are summarized. Some potential research prospects are 60 *Corr. Author's Address:School of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun, China, 1518051537@qq.com Strojniški vestnik - Journal of Mechanical Engineering 62(2016)1, 60-75 also discussed. The aim of this review is to be all encompassing, but this is an impossible task, so we apologize for any omissions. 1 EXTRAPOLATION METHODS 1.1 Parametric Extrapolation Method (PE) Fitting sample data with a distribution function and estimating the parameters are included in PE. Due to the different types of sample data, PE is divided into the parameter-estimate extrapolation method (PEE) and the extreme-value extrapolation method (EVE). 1.1.1 Parameter-Estimate Extrapolation Method (PEE) PEE is a traditional extrapolation method and extrapolates a short-term load spectrum counted from a measured load time history. PEE includes one-dimension extrapolation, in which only amplitudes accompanied by the frequencies are extrapolated, and the two-dimensional extrapolation extrapolates both the means and amplitudes together with the frequencies [18] to [20]. In practice, the two-dimensional extrapolation method is commonly used and the process is reviewed as follows: 1. Preprocess the measured load The preprocessing mainly includes discretizing the analog signal, filtering the digital signal, eliminating the trend item, checking and eliminating the abnormal peaks [21]. 2. Transform the load time history into a short- term load spectrum. The rainflow counting method (RCM) is frequently used in PEE [16] and [18]. RCM, which was proposed by Matsuiski and Endo more than 50 years ago and developed in the following decades [22] and [23], is a procedure for determining the damaging load cycles in a load time history [24], and the cycles are usually summed into bins referenced by their mean values and amplitudes. For examples, in Wang et al. [25], the outfield load spectrum was divided into one main cycle and four sub cycles by RCM. 3. Fit the amplitudes and mean values with distribution functions. The relationship between the mean values and frequencies usually obeys a normal distribution [20]. Meanwhile, the relationship between the amplitudes and frequencies usually obeys a Weibull distribution [26]. When the assumed variables obey a two-dimensional normal distribution, a probability density function is introduced by Holling and Mueller [27]: f( x, y) = 1 2nala2yjl—j -i 2(1-p2)^ Oi (1) where ¡1, i2 are the mathematical expectations of x and y, respectively, ah o2 are the standard deviations of x and y, respectively, and p is the correlation coefficient. In the equation, ¡1, ¡2, oh o2, p are all constants, and o1 > 0, o2 > 0, -1
umax or X < umin. By POT, the maxima above the threshold umax and the minima below the threshold umin are randomly regenerated, and only these extreme values will be extrapolated.
For the threshold, on one hand, the level must be high enough so that only true peaks, with Poisson arrival rates, are selected. Small values for the threshold will lead to a biased estimation [47]. On the
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Wang, J.X. - Chen, H.B. - Li, Y. - Wu, Y.Q. - Zhang, Y.S.
Strojniški vestnik - Journal of Mechanical Engineering 62(2016)1, 60-75
other hand, the level must be low enough to ensure that sufficient data will be selected to guarantee an accurate estimation of the distribution parameters, and the variance of the parameters will be decreased
[47]. Johannesson [40] suggested a simple method that sets the threshold equal to the square root of the cycle number in the signal and works well in many cases
[48].
Other threshold-selection methods have also been proposed, for example, Davison [49], Ledermann et al. [50] and Walshaw [51].
Level upcrossings (LU): According to Johannesson and Thomas [17], LU is proposed to obtain the maxima and minima of the load cycles, then determine the limiting shape of the rainflow matrix (RFM) and estimate the limiting RFM G [17]:
G=UL' (5a)
r E[f"] (5b)
gij= lim-(5b)
z^rc z
where the elements f of Fz are the number of rainflow cycles in distance z, with a minimum in class i and a maximum in class j. Fz is the rainflow matrix in distance z.
This approach is based on an asymptotic theory for the crossings of extreme (high and low) levels. First, obtain a measured RFM F [17]:
Hfj (6)
where f is the number of the cycle with minimum i and maximum j.
Then, calculate the LU from F and determine a suitable threshold. The level upcrossings spectrum is calculated as follows [17]:
N=(n L. (7)
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
Time
Fig. 1. Schematic diagram of BMM
10
15
Time
Fig. 2. Schematic diagram of POT
A Review of the Extrapolation Method in Load Spectrum Compiling
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o
3 3
2
0
0
5
20
25
Strojniški vestnik - Journal of Mechanical Engineering 62(2016)1, 60-75
where nk is the accumulative cycle number from the load level i below k to the load level j above k:
nk = Z f •
i