Improving safety by fatigue life assessment of pressure hull considering corrosion factors: A review

Research on determining fatigue endurance of submarine pressure-resistant hulls is crucial for determining their remaining operational lifespan. These studies typically focus on the effects of hydrostatic pressure on fatigue under ideal conditions without taking into account other significant factors. However, the actual condition of pressure hulls is influenced by multiple elements, one of which is operational environmental factors such as corrosion. While current research has examined these factors individually, there is a notable absence of a comprehensive analysis that integrates all of them. Corrosion can reduce structural strength due to the resulting plate thinning effect caused by hydrostatic pressure and low cyclic fatigue. This oversight hampers the development of accurate models for predicting fatigue life and compromises the safety and reliability of underwater structures. This paper addresses the research gap by emphasizing corrosion factors in fatigue life assessments using the low-cyclic fatigue method. By incorporating these elements into the assessment methodology, a more comprehensive understanding of pressure hull fatigue can be achieved, leading to more accurate predictions of pressure hull remaining lifespan.