Aircraft structures have to be designed according to the damage tolerance philosophy which requires the damage tolerance evaluation for fatigue critical components. The evaluation includes fatigue crack growth life prediction and residual strength analysis. DATAS (DAmage Tolerance Analysis Software) is developed with a special feature to include a crack closure model i.e. the CORPUS model in fatigue crack growth prediction under flight stimulation loading. The CORPUS model is based on crack closure phenomenon which is visualized as humps on the crack faces. Some theoretical background of the CORPUS model will be reviewed , including some characteristic features. Another special feature of DATAS is the use of R curve data for residual strength analysis of thin sheets. Some characteristic features of DATAS are presented and a summary of prediction results is given. © 2000 Trans Tech Publications.

CORPUS Model,Crack Closure,Crack Growth Life Prediction,Damage-Tolerance Analysis,Residual Strength Analysis