The blade life estimation is a multifaceted technology, involving free and forced vibration forces, that lead to the determination of steady and dynamic stresses at different critical speeds during the startup and shutdown procedures, as well as in the operational speed range.Propagation and unstable fracture are described with practical examples to estimate blade life.

Preface / Introduction / Stress Based Theories / Low Cycle Fatigue Life Estimation by Stress Based Theories / High Cycle Fatigue Life Estimation by Stress Based Theories / Finite Element Analysis of Blades / Local Stress Strain Approach for Crack Initiation/ Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics / Stress Intensity Factor Approach for Fatigue Crack Initiation / Stress Intensity Factor Approach for Fatigue Crack Propagation / Index.

Postgraduate Students, Practising Engineers and Researchers