In structural steels, many fatigue failures originate from small surface or subsurface cracks. These cracks often grow faster than predicted by conventional long-crack models, particularly under variable amplitude loading where load sequence effects (e.g., overloads, under-loads, and spectrum loading) influence crack closure and growth rates. Traditional Paris-law approaches may underestimate this early growth phase.

I am interested in approaches that can:

• Capture the transition from micro-structurally short cracks to long cracks.
• Account for load interaction effects in realistic service conditions (bridges, offshore structures, etc.).
• Provide reliable predictions for structural steels where crack closure and micro-structure play important roles.